A man who claimed that he was injured by police outside the Lower Queen Anne Dick’s Drive In in 2007 has filed both state and federal lawsuits this week, alleging “a pattern of excessive force and police misconduct” in the Seattle Police Department, according to our news partner, The Seattle Times. From the Times:
The lawsuits say Dewoyne Lowe suffered a concussion and severe face cuts from police who knocked him to the ground outside the Queen Anne Dick’s Drive-In after Lowe and a companion argued with a security guard about whether the restaurant was open.
Lowe’s attorney, John Kannin, said one of the officers accused of punching his client is Officer Camilo DePina. Kannin says DePina is among the officers seen standing by in a videotape of a recent racially charged incident in which a Latino man was beaten by another police officer. That incident is under investigation by the FBI.
According to the Times, Lowe’s lawsuits allege two incidents involving DePina. In the first Lowe claims DePina knocked him down face first in the Dick’s parking lot. In the second he states that DePina slammed his head into a counter at a Seattle police station later. The lawsuits also names a second officer, Christopher Christman, who Lowe claims assisted in the attacks against him. Kannin stated that Lowe’s injuries were so severe that he required treatment at Harborview Medical Center. One noted injury was a cut through his eyebrow that required 12 stitches. From the Times:
Renee Witt, Seattle police spokeswoman, said the department would not comment on an active investigation or pending lawsuit.