
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991                   TAG: 9104030486
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

TRIAL UNDER WAY IN VIRGINIA BEACH BEATING LAWSUIT

Virginia Beach officials wanted to discourage young blacks from visiting the resort city during the 1989 Labor Day weekend, an attorney for a man who contends he was beaten by police said Tuesday.

City officials, in particular Police Chief Charles R. Wall, "did not want the young black celebrants at the beachfront anymore," Bernard Holmes said in opening arguments of an $8 million lawsuit brought by Melvin Moore of Hampton.

Moore contends he was beaten by an officer, identified only as "John Doe," when he was arrested early Sept. 3, 1989, near an oceanfront store that had been looted.

The Labor Day weekend, which usually draws thousands of college students for an informal end-of-summer celebration known as Greekfest, was marred in 1989 by riots and looting that caused $1.4 million in damage.

The trial before U.S. Magistrate Tommy E. Miller is scheduled for three weeks.

Moore alleges numerous civil rights violations and a cover-up to protect the officer who beat him. The defendants include the city, Wall and the unidentified officer.

by CNB