Former Bethel police officer Jonathan Murphy faces a lawsuit in civil court accused of assaulting Bernard Mael after a December 2023 traffic stop. The victim, Mael, alleges that Murphy’s actions caused permanent brain damage, limiting his ability to live a normal life.
The Bethel police officer lawsuit filed on December 6th details an alleged series of violent actions by Murphy, another officer, and the City of Bethel. During the initial stop, Murphy allegedly punched Mael twice, escalating the situation when Mael attempted to comply with commands.
After Murphy and Officer Jonathan Bouma pursued Mael’s vehicle and crashed into a snowbank, they reportedly used excessive force, including tasing him multiple times and using pepper spray, according to the complaint.
According to the lawsuit, Murphy punched Mael’s head over a dozen times and lied about being struck by Mael’s vehicle. Body cam footage contradicts Murphy’s account, showing no evidence of the car hitting him.
Bouma, who initially supported Murphy’s version, later admitted his statements relied on Murphy’s claim rather than body cam footage. Murphy resigned from the Bethel Police Department following the incident and now serves as police chief of the Diamond City Police Department in Arkansas.
Bouma also left the department, and neither officer faces charges for their report. The lawsuit seeks damages from Murphy, Bouma, and the City of Bethel, alleging negligent hiring and failure to train officers.
While Bethel city officials declined to comment, Mael’s attorney argues the lawsuit aligns closely with the criminal case filed in August. Murphy’s criminal case will next be heard in Bethel court on February 3rd. However, no date has been set for the civil proceedings. The Bethel police officer lawsuit has raised questions about accountability and law enforcement practices.
This news article was originally published by Alaska Public Media.
