A man who alleges two Tacoma police officers broke his arm and shoulder during a traffic stop is suing the city.
Donald Colburn seeks unspecified damages for pain and suffering and violations of his civil rights, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in Pierce County Superior Court.
Colburn, who is represented by attorney Antoni Froehling, says officers John Hill and Jacob Willard used excessive force during the 2010 incident. Hill and Willard also are named as defendants.
Police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the department does not comment on pending litigation.
Hill was hired in March 2008 and Willard in October 2007. Both remain on the job, Fulghum said.
Colburn was driving his car during the early morning hours of Jan. 15, 2010, when Hill and Willard “believed it appropriate to conduct a traffic stop on plaintiff’s vehicle,” the lawsuit states.
After Colburn stopped, the officers approached his car and ordered him to get out, the suit states.
“When (Colburn) did not comply with their request in a manner that they considered timely, acting in concert, they forcibly grabbed plaintiff by his left arm and dragged him out of the car, placing him face down on the ground,” according to the lawsuit.
They broke his arm in the process, the suit states.
The two officers then told Colburn to put his hands behind his back. When he didn’t comply “in a manner they considered timely,” they forced his arms behind his back, aggravating his injuries, the lawsuit states.
They then took Colburn to the police station to complete “procedures incident to the arrest of plaintiff” before taking him to the hospital, according to the suit.
“The defendant City of Tacoma Police Department was negligent in not properly supervising its employees, not properly training them in the use of appropriate force and not properly adopting protocols on the appropriate use of force while conducting an investigation and arrest,” the suit states.
Adam Lynn: 253-597-8644
adam.lynn@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
Twitter: @TNTadam
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