Jay-Z and his legal eagles are jumping to the defense of a Wisconsin man wrongfully, and violently, arrested — and although cops know they nabbed the wrong guy … he’s still facing charges.
TMZ Hip Hop has learned Jay-Z’s Team ROC org has enlisted powerhouse lawyer Alex Spiro to rep Jermelle English Jr. and his family … in hopes of getting all charges dropped, and possibly to sue the Kenosha PD.
English was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest back in July, after Kenosha cops investigating a hit-and-run burst into the Applebee’s, slammed him onto the ground and deployed pepper spray in the presence of his 1-year-old child.
Applebee’s employees recorded video of the whole violent encounter.
The video shows officers repeatedly pummeling English as he lay on the ground … prompting several protests in the local area, especially once the full details — that cops grabbed a completely innocent man — were uncovered.
The true hit-and-run suspects were actually found later hiding inside the restaurant’s bathroom.
Team ROC Managing Director Dania Diaz tells TMZ Hip Hop, “The reckless arrest of Jermelle English Jr. and the careless endangerment of his infant child by the Kenosha Police Department is an absolute travesty … the Team ROC team is here to support Jermelle and his family through this traumatic experience, demand justice and hold the Kenosha police officers accountable.”
Kenosha PD’s Leo Viola tells us the department is still undergoing an internal investigation, and plans to be extremely transparent with the public once it’s completed. He adds, the Dept. initiated its probe without any outside pressure.
Aside from the potential Team Roc-funded lawsuit from Jermelle … the manager on duty at the time of the incident might also sue, as she claims she was wrongfully fired for making “Applebee’s look bad.”
