Boston Blotter: Excessive Force in Lawrence?

--Lawrence police have to deal with allegations of excessive force after a resident reported that a police officer was "beaten by [an officer] and knocked unconscious while handcuffed in a back room." The ACLU is getting involved, and Spanish-language newspapers have been running similar stories of excessive force.

The Globe reports that the officer in question has a history with excessive force, including one incident when he was a Boston police officer.

--A BPD officer shot a woman in the thigh yesterday morning in Dorchester. The Herald reports police were called to settle down a woman who was "out of control, and the woman "swung a knife" at several officers.

The BPD report says officers "made numerous attempts to have her release the knife."

--Early yesterday morning, two individuals in a car were blocking traffic on Landsdowne, so the BPD decided to have a chat with them. During the conversation, the police observed the driver try to hide a bottle of booze. The passenger of the car wasn't quite as bright - he set a blunt on top of the roof of the car, as if the police wouldn't notice. The lesson? As the BPD headline states, "Don't Draw Attention to Yourself."

--In serious weird, a guy tried to hold up a Papyrus on Tremont. During the holdup, he attempted to purchase a birthday card. How sweet. Sort of.

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image of Excessive Force from Amazon.