Couple
Files Federal Lawsuit for Police Brutality
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WLNS) - A local couple has filed a
federal lawsuit of police brutality against the City of Eaton Rapids. The case
is now waiting in a Grand Rapids federal court with these defendants: the
police chief, sergeant and their attorney.
A September night in 2010, Melissa and Keith Minaya went out
to celebrate a friend's birthday at a bar in Eaton Rapids. They say it was
around 1a.m. when their group of eight met in the parking lot figure out
driving arrangements.
It was then court documents say an Eaton Rapids officer
pulled up in his patrol car and ordered them to disperse. Melissa allegedly
made a dance move as she walked to her car and that's when she says the officer
told her she was under arrest. She and witnesses claim what followed was brutal
treatment that left Minaya with back and neck injuries. Injuries she alleges
came at the hands of the officer, who court documents claim, grabbed her by the
arm and neck, jerked her around and slammed her against his patrol car, hitting
her head against it twice.
Court documents also say, at one point, the group pleaded
with the officer to stop choking Melissa. When her husband told him he was
recording video of it on his cell phone, he was placed under arrest.
Of course, this is just one side of the story.
The couple did spend the night in jail and were charged with
misdemeanors, including resisting a cop and assault and battery. Those charges
were later dropped. They're now asking the court for damages for pain and
suffering and financial losses. They say the police chief was negligent, failed
to train his staff and ignored previous complaints against the sergeant who
remains on duty.
6 News spoke with the chief by phone who said he wouldn't
comment on the case. Neither the attorney's for the city or the Minaya's
returned our calls.