Scuffle Between Police, College Student Outside Towson Bar Heads To Fed. Court
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- A lawsuit was filed more than a year after a cell phone recorded a throw-down outside a Towson bar.
The case will now go in front of a federal judge.
Cell phone video captured a brawl between Baltimore County police and a college student back in December 2015. The recordings went viral at the time.
Zachary Blumenstein, who was then a teenager, can be seen at the bottom of a police scuffle outside the Greene Turtle in Towson.
He was left with visible bruises and filed a lawsuit Friday that alleges officers used excessive force.
After the incident, a police report said officers grabbed his arm, his shirt collar and pepper sprayed him. They never mention striking him in the face.
The department did say in the days after, they were looking into whether use of force was necessary.
"We are reviewing the video. We take the use of excessive force very seriously in this department," said Elise Armacost of the Baltimore County Police.
Blumenstein's suit claims more happened. On top of seeking damages for excessive force, it alleges assault, battery, false arrest, just to name a few.
Baltimore County says its aware the suit was filed but hasn't received a copy.
Blumenstein did face charges after the incident, including disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
He agreed to community service last year and apologized.
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