Mobile police officer under investigation for 2 high-profile incidents
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — An officer with the Mobile Police Department was involved in two high-profile cases in under six months, News 5 has learned.
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Paul Callegari Jr. was caught on camera beating a handcuffed man in October. Former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown investigated the incident.
The man Callegari was seen beating was identified as Beezer DuBose Jr. DuBose was pulled over by officers for dark-tinted windows near Dauphin Island Parkway and Halls Mill Road.
After the fight, Brown said Callegari accelerated the situation with profanity and taunting tactics.
“[Callegari] pushes [DuBose] against the post, but rather than stay at arm’s distance from Mr. DuBose, he leans in closely to his face and starts to argue back and forth with him,” Brown said. “Giving up the superior tactical position.”
Callegari filed a complaint to the District Court that accused DuBose of grabbing his groin. Brown said Callegari used that to justify his reason to hit DuBose.
“The officer did not go to medical on that occasion but rather waited three days after the event had been posted on social media,” Brown said. “The officer complained several times about his thumb being injured… however, he did not complain a single time about any pain in his groin area.”
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Callegari was placed on leave but was later cleared to return to work.
Callegari was named Officer of the Month in August 2020. At the time, the police department described Callegari as “proactive,” “professional,” and “exceptional.”
On March 29, Callegari was involved in a deadly crash with a motorcyclist at the intersection of Ziegler Boulevard and Cody Road.
The motorcyclist, Robert Sayen, 67, was killed when he collided with the side of Callegari’s vehicle.
City officials confirmed Callegari’s name was redacted in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s crash report.
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The report estimated Callegari was going 56 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per-hour zone.
The traffic lights were flashing at the time of the crash, yellow for the officer and red for the motorcyclist.
Callegari remains on administrative duty as the crash investigation continues.
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