CLEVELAND, Ohio — East Cleveland officials settled two police excessive force lawsuits for a total of $48,000, officials said.
The city agreed to pay Redrick Ward $33,000 after an officer stomped on Ward’s head and to pay Robert Banks Jr. $15,000 after he was shot in the leg by an officer.
Both incidents occurred during a period of intense scrutiny of the department following rampant car chases and an FBI investigation that led to more than a dozen convictions of police officers…