Belleville police officer bounced detainee's face on hood of cruiser, suit states

A man claims he was injured after a Belleville police officer hit his head on the hood of a police cruiser.

In a suit Peter Huster filed March 12 against Belleville officer Timothy Crimm, other unknown officers and the city of Belleville, Huster claims he suffered personal injury, pain and suffering and lost money due to his inability to work because of the incident.

Huster was celebrating his birthday at Mo-Jacks Bar in Belleville on Sept. 13, the night the incident occurred, according to the St. Clair County complaint.

Not knowing the top floor of the bar was a private residence, Huster tried to go up the stairs, the suit states.

"Realizing his mistake, he retreated down the stairs and was confronted by the resident," the suit states. "Mr. Huster's friends intervened on his behalf and ushered him out of the bar."

Still, the resident proceeded to call the police.

Crimm, the Belleville officer, showed up and began searching for Huster, the complaint says.

Huster had left and was riding in a car with two females when an officer stopped the car, according to the complaint.

After Huster identified himself, Crimm and other Belleville police officers handcuffed and detained him, the suit states.

"Plaintiff did not resist and that defendant Crimm and/or other members of the Belleville Police Department, without any legal justification, bounced his face on the hood of a patrol car causing severe physical damage," the suit states.

Crimm violated Huster's Fourth and Eighth amendment rights, according to the complaint.

The city of Belleville also violated Huster's rights by hiring Crimm, knowing he was likely to violate rights of his arrestees and by failing to properly train Crimm, the complaint states.

In the six-count suit, Huster is seeking a judgment of more than $300,000, plus costs.

Jarrod P. Beasley of The Kuehn Law Firm in Belleville will be representing him.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0133.