Evening star., 1955-02-13
Pledges
Full Inquiry Of
Beating Charge
Stresses Fairness
To All Parties; Lutz
Queries Witnesses

Queries Witnesses
Police Chief Robert v. Murray
last night pledged a full investi-
cation Of complaints from two
used-car statesmen that they were
beaten up by detectives at police
headquarters Monday.
Returning to the city earlier
yesterday. Chief Murray kept in
touch with the police investiga-
ton but refused to suspend the
two policemen accused.
I'VE want to be fair to every
one who comes into the custody
of the police" he said, "but we
want to be fair to the policemen,
too. To take hasty action before
all the facts are known, would
be wrong.
Everyone in the Police De-
partment, every person in the
city of Washington must know
that we will go right down the
line on this and do what's proper.
We've done SO in every case so
far and We'll do it this time"
Lutz Quizzes Witnesses.
Deputy Chief Clarence H. Lutz.
head of the morals division. who
is conducting the police investi-
cation, spent all day yesterday
interviewing witnesses. So did the
FBI, which is making it's own in
vestigation to determine if civil
rights have been violated. In
spector Lutz said he hopes to
complete his investigation by
Tuesday.
The complainants are Steven
r. Kotecki of 2605 Twenty-ninth
street Sc. and Anthony H. Ce-
lani of 636 Belle View boulevard,
Alexandria, Va. An X-ray ex-
animation of Mr.. Kotecki at Dis
trict General Hospital showed a
Clipped bone near his right ell
bow, a broken toe, a fractured
rib and a cash on his shin. Mr..
Celani said he suffered bruises.
One of the key points of the
official investigation is where the
injuries were suffered.
Two Swear Out Affidavits.
Mr.. Kotecki and Mr.. Celani
have both sworn out affidavits
that they were injured while be-
ing questioned by detectives in a
morals division room at police
headquarters. Mr.. Kotecki named
as his assailants Detectives Billy
Smith and Louis A. Fochett and
Mr.. Celani said he was beaten
by Detective Smith.
Both detectives, according to
Inspector Roy E. Blick, head of
the prostitution and perversion
squad of the morals division,
denied using force in the ques-
tioning. Detective Smith, how
ever, told his superiors he did
protect himself" while making
the arrest which preceded the
headquarters questioning.
The police investigators are
trying to determine whether the
scuffle before the arrest was
rough enough to cause the in
juries. Mr.. Celani said he was
kneed in the groin by Detective
Smith and fell to the ground.
One of the many police who
arrived on the scene of the arrest
has given the investigators a
statement to the effect that he
saw Detective Smith holding both
men, that one of the men ap-
peared to break away and the
newly arrived policeman grabbed
the prisoners and put a half lock
On MS arm.
Seek Impartial Witnesses.
Inspector Lutz said he was
looking for impartial witnesses
to the arrest, to determine how
much of a scuffie actually took
place. The men were arrested on
disorderly conduct charges at
Bob Wilson's used-car lot at 227
K street NV. where both are
employed, The time was between
4:45 and S pm. Wednesday.
One witness, he said, has told
police that colored man in q
1949 Ford was parked across the
sidewalk in the lot and that
during the arrest sequence, the
scuffle ranged around this car.
Inspector Lutz said he would like
to talk to the driver of this car.
The inspector said he was also
told that some of the cars and
trucks moving along the heavily
Travelled thoroughfare slowed
down to see what was going on,
He urged these motorists to get
in touch with him or Inspector
Blick or, in their absence, to call
the desk lieutenant in the Detec-
tive Bureau.
Location Is Important.
Chief Murray explained why
police attach so much impor-
tance to where the injuries took
place.
II can see officers maintaining
an arrest on the street." he said.
II can see no reason for any
action against person once he
has been brought in. don't
think, any man in the depart
ment has any doubt about the
way I feel about that"
Among the many police being
questioned are all those who
were on the scene of the arrest,
prisoners in the cell block when
the men were brought in. those
in the cell block when the men
left and all members of the vice
squad who were on duty that
night.
Inspector Blick said the vital
period in the investigation of
what happened at headquarters
was between 7 pm. when netec.