Matthew Lawson, a 20-year-old Pembroke Pines man, is suing the Town of Davie and three of its cops for Florida police brutality. Lawson has filed a federal complaint seeking $1 million.
In his civil complaint, Lawson claims Davie police officers Paul Vardakis, Steve Ricker, and Curtis Schock used excessive force when arresting him in 2009 . Lawson says that they Tasered him, set a K-9 on him to bite and attack, and physically assaulted him with kicks and punches. At the time of the arrest, Lawson was an 18-year-old high school student.
The charges of resisting arrest with violence and battery on an officer were later dropped by the Broward State Attorney’s office, which concluded that it is not possible to resist an arrest that is unlawful and that there was no reasonable cause to justify why the officers stopped and detained Lawson. His federal complaint says that the officers reported that they tried to stop him because he was swaying and sweating and his pupils were dilated as if he were on drugs.
Not only do police officers need to have cause to make an arrest, but also, they are not then or ever allowed to use more force than necessary. Excessive use of force can cause needless pain and suffering and serious injury. It can also be considered an abuse of power.
Broward County police brutality is a violation of one’s civil rights. Police brutality doesn’t just include physical violence. Other examples of police brutality include sexual assault, blackmail, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, intimidation, false arrests, racial profiling, and other acts of violence.
You may be entitled to civil damages for the harm that you suffered.
$1M Lawsuit Accuses Three Davie Cops of Brutality, NBC Miami, August 14, 2011
Man files federal lawsuit accusing 3 Davie officers of police brutality, Sun-Sentinel, August 13, 2011
More Blog Posts:
Florida Man Dies After Police Stun Him with Taser at Universal CityWalk, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, April 22, 2011
Man Sues Clearwater, Florida For Brother’s Wrongful Death, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, August 21, 2008