PASADENA : Suit Alleges Police Used Excessive Force
A civil lawsuit filed by an African American man who was arrested during a racially charged melee between Pasadena police and members of his family, who are prominent in sports and community affairs, is scheduled to go to trial Monday.
After the Aug. 17, 1991, incident at Brookside Park, Gordon McCullough, 40, was charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.
McCullough was later found innocent of battery, but guilty of resisting arrest. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to attend counseling. He is suing the city and police on the grounds of assault and use of excessive force.
Police sprayed 11 others, many of them members of McCullough’s family, with tear gas. The other family members also filed lawsuits against the city, said Assistant City Atty. Lawrence Newberry. However, Newberry said the others accepted cash settlements for undisclosed amounts and their cases never went to trial.
Newberry said a settlement offer has not been made to McCullough, primarily because a jury had found him guilty of resisting arrest.
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