Man beaten by Mpls. cops in '09 after stop files federal suit (Star Tribune)

Man beaten by Mpls. cops in '09 after stop files federal suit:

A man whose recorded beating changed how Minneapolis police handle use-of-force incidents has filed a federal excessive force lawsuit after negotiations with the city failed to yield a settlement of his claims. Derryl Jenkins filed the suit Monday based on an incident last February when police stopped him for allegedly speeding...

According to the lawsuit: When stopped, Jenkins was confused about what he allegedly did wrong, asked to speak to a supervisor, and got out of his vehicle. Officer Richard Walker wrestled him to the ground and called for backup. At least six officers punched and kicked Jenkins as he lay face down in a snowbank, and one officer stunned him three times with a Taser.Jenkins went to the hospital with facial injuries. He was charged with felony assault and refusing a blood-alcohol test, but a prosecutor and judge eventually dropped the charges. A few minutes after the incident, officer Scott Dahlquist sent a text describing it as "A GOOD FIGHT." ...

Attached to the suit are Lt. Mike Sauro's "use of force" comments. Sauro calls it a "myth" that "blows to the head are deadly force." ...