Man Sues Huntington Beach For $25K, Says Police Choked Him Unconscious
SANTA ANA (CBS) — A Huntington Beach man says local law enforcement officers choked him until he passed out after calling in a report about loose dogs in his neighborhood.
Resident Kevin Anastasi is suing the city for $25,000 after what he says is a clear case of police brutality on April 24, 2009, according to a report in the Orange County Register.
The complaint alleges two police officers drew their weapons on Anastasi and forced him to the ground after arriving at his home in the 20900 block of Monarch Lane.
Anastasi says he was outside holding a metal pole to protect himself against the dogs when the police arrived.
The lawsuit alleges the officers ordered Anastasi to "drop the weapon", an order that Anastasi says he obeyed immediately.
The officers then choked him until he lost consciousness, arrested and charged Anastasi with resisting a peace officer, according to the lawsuit.
City Attorney Jennifer McGrath declined to comment on the suit.
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