Alleged Police Brutality Victim Bergeron Seeks 'Justice'

[Story originally posted at 11 a.m.]


The Seabrook man who posted a video of officers allegedly assaulting him in the police station briefly appeared in court Wednesday in connection to an unrelated case in which he faces assault charges of his own.

Michael Bergeron Jr., 23, was scheduled for trial Wednesday morning in Seabrook District Court on a Class A misdemeanor assault charge in connection to an incident involving a woman in summer 2013.

Bergeron entered the court briefly before exiting for a conference with Scott Gleason, his attorney for the police brutality case. A public defender simultaneously appeared on behalf on Bergeron in court for the assault trial, for which Judge Sharon deVries granted a continuance after speaking with the defense and prosecution at the bench.

Bergeron's trial has been rescheduled to April 23 at 1 p.m.

Bergeron's mother drove him to court Wednesday morning, and a New Hampshire State Police cruiser could be seen pulling the vehicle over on Ledge Road before the trial began.

The trial was delayed because of this, and police weren't immediately available for comment about the stop.

Bergeron didn't answer any questions about either case outside of the courtroom after the continuance was granted, turning away from TV cameras and reporters as he walked through the parking lot. He twice waved to the various media outlets, though, including once before entering the passenger side of a white van that drove him away from the court.

Gleason answered several questions and issued a brief statement after his client left.

Gleason said Bergeron is "doing fine" and "doing great," and that "everything is headed in the right direction" in the police brutality case. Gleason plans to meet with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office in the near future about the case and the possibility that there may be more video, and he said he and Bergeron are "optimistic" about their case.

When asked about where the case is headed, Gleason replied, "Justice. That's where it's headed. That's where it's going."

Three of the four Seabrook police officers — Mark Richardson, Adam Laurent and Keith Dietenhofer — shown in the Nov. 11, 2009, video of the alleged brutality are on paid administrative leave pending a multi-agency criminal investigation into potential civil rights violations.

Bergeron has claimed on YouTube that he has lasting injuries due to the alleged brutality.

Bergeron also has other charges pending against him, including a felony burglary charge.


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