MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and two police officers, accusing them of using excessive force in an incident captured on body camera video last year.
Said Abdullahi's attorney Jeff Storms says the incident started when his client's car broke down and he asked another driver for a jump. According to the lawsuit, the other driver got out with a baseball bat and a knife and Abdullahi responded by displaying mace.
"My client was obviously kind of upset that he was seeking neighborly help and was immediately labeled as a threat," Storms said.
Police arrived and told Abdullahi to move off the street. As he started recording them with his cell phone, body camera video shows one officer, Daniel Barlow, pushing him.
As Abdullahi began saying he was going to press charges, the other officer, Sergio Villegas, shoved Abdullahi to the pavement.
The officers arrested Abdullahi and ticketed him for disorderly conduct. Storms said he spent three days in jail, and court records show a month later a prosecutor dismissed the charge.
Storms says it amounts to a coverup.
"They report effectively that Mr. Abdullahi lost his footing and fell," Storms said. "And then we have a false narrative and false charges to cover up what was unconstitutional conduct."
Storms says the case mirrors much of what was found in the Department of Justice's report on MPD.
"I'm surprised and not surprised," Storms said.
Minneapolis police said they cannot comment on pending litigation. Both officers are currently still employed with MPD.
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