Another Alleged Portland Police Tackle: This Time, It's a Lawsuit

Five days after Portland police were booed by a crowd July 31 for taking a man to the ground outside the Roseland Theater, another man filed a lawsuit against the city claiming a very similar story.

According to the lawsuit filed Aug. 4 in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Sadiki Stone, 27, of North Portland, was standing on the sidewalk at Southeast 4th Avenue and Washington Street on Aug. 5, 2007, at about 2:30 a.m. He'd just left the Portland City Grill, the lawsuit says.

Police told Stone to clear the sidewalk and head in the opposite direction from where his car was parked, the lawsuit says. Stone asked them for the reason.

Then, according to the suit, "without warning, he was tackled and thrown to the sidewalk and into a building by three to four police officers. His hands were handcuffed behind his back, he was kicked in the ribs several times, and he was struck or kicked in the temple."

Stone spent about 12 hours in jail, the lawsuit says. He was charged with harassment and interfering with a police officer. But according to court records, he was acquitted of both those charges in a trial on Feb. 13 this year.

Stone suffered multiple cuts and abrasions to his head as well as a black eye, and a doctor put him on Vicodin and ordered him to stay home for three days, the lawsuit says.

The suit was filed against the City of Portland and officers Branden Combs, Brian Hubbard, Aaron Schmautz, Matthew Wells and Jason Worthington. It claims false arrest, assault and battery, and denial of civil rights.

The suit, filed by Portland lawyer D. Eric Woodard, seeks $8,500 in economic damages plus $100,000 for pain and suffering.

The city attorney's office does not comment on pending litigation.