The St. Paul City Council today settled two police brutality claims stemming from arrests in 2006 and 2010.
The city denied the allegations in both cases.
Harold Shirley accused police of excessive force and violating his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizure while he was outside St. Joseph’s Hospital in January 2010. The city agreed to pay him $10,000.
He was a patient at the hospital at the time and had authorization from his doctor to enter the hospital to use the bathroom, according to the federal lawsuit, also naming St. Joseph’s Hospital as a defendant. He was “accosted” by security guards and denied access to use the bathroom.
After he eventually gained access and left the hospital, he said security guards, including an off-duty St. Paul police officer, beat him.
J. Refugio Garcia and his wife Isabel Garcia sued the city over his 2006 arrest. The city settled for $11,500.
He was on his way home from a bar when a police officer spotted him driving recklessly, according to a federal court document. He was in his driveway when the officer confronted him. The officer tried to get him to return to his car, but he went into his house.
The officer followed him into the home, according to the document. A struggle followed, and the officer called for backup. Isabel Garcia also called 911.
Garcia accused police officers of beating him unconscious and using pepper spray. He reported he suffered two broken ribs.
Brady Gervais can be reached at 651-228-5513. Follow her at twitter.com/bgervais and twitter.com/ppUsual Suspects.
