A Franklin man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming Butler City police officers used excessive force when they let their trained police dog chew him up when he attempted to run during a traffic stop.
Joshua Rivera filed the suit Monday against the city of Butler, the Butler City Police Department, Officer Brian Grooms, another officer identified only as John Doe, and the former deputy police chief David Adam.
In the complaint, Rivera said he was a passenger in a car that the two officers pulled over in May 2017. Rivera had an outstanding warrant and ran. The police dog chased him down and bit him several times, including in the neck. He claims the officers didn’t tell the dog to let go, despite him trying to obey their commands and get on the ground.
“On May 5, 2017, Joshua Rivera was a victim of police brutality and excessive force,” the complaint reads. “During his encounter with Butler City Police, Mr. Rivera was viciously attacked by trained police dogs- even after he was handcuffed and formally detained. The attacks left several deep lacerations and created permanent scars.”
Rivera said he sustained serious injuries and had to be flown by medical helicopter to the hospital. He says he now deals with permanent nerve damage.
“To this day, (Rivera) has no feeling in his forearm from his elbow to his wrist,” according to the complaint. “On each day, every couple of hours, (Rivera) feels pins and needles, and numbness within his hand.”
The suit is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.
When asked for a response to the suit during a Butler City Council meeting on Tuesday night, city solicitor Tom Breth called it a “nuisance complaint.” He added that he will work with the city’s insurance provider to resolve the matter.
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