SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge says a man can sue Seattle police, claiming the city has a “local custom” of allowing police abuse.
The Seattle Times reports the civil rights lawsuit was brought by a man who was arrested in February 2008 on suspicion of assaulting a woman.
Both the man, John Kita, and police say the patrol car video supports their version of events. Kita says he was needlessly roughed up. Police say officer Kevin Oshikawa-Clay used approved techniques to restrain a “noncompliant, assaultive and intoxicated suspect.”
Judge John Coughenour cited the department’s sanction of the force as evidence a jury should consider.
