SAN DIEGO — A San Diego man is suing the city and its police officers, alleging false arrest, battery and violating his civil rights.
Michael C. Lee filed a complaint Feb. 23 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against the city of San Diego, police officer Peter Larson, and police officers Does 1-10, alleging violation of his Fourth Amendment rights, as well as the rights guaranteed by California law and the California Constitution.
According to the complaint, around 2 a.m. May 28, 2017, Lee was standing on a sidewalk in the city's Gaslamp District, waiting to be picked up by a friend. The suit says Lee was grabbed and forcefully taken to the ground by San Diego police officers.
Lee says he was arrested without probable cause, as he was not committing any type of crime and was denied his claim for injuries after filling a complaint over the incident. As a result, Lee says he suffered injuries that prevented him from playing football for the Los Angeles Chargers, leading to the Chargers releasing Lee from the roster.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to properly investigate citizen complaints and failed to take corrective or disciplinary action against officers who acted improperly.
Lee seeks trial by jury general, compensatory, exemplary and punitive damages, costs of suit, attorney fees, and all other relief the court deems proper. He is represented by attorney Michael R. Marrinan of Law Offices of Michael R. Marrinan in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California case number 3:18-cv-00159-W-BLM