BENTON – Washington Park policeman Marlyn Jackson broke a man’s arm and injured his head at Scarlett’s Cabaret, according to a complaint at U.S. district court.
Plaintiff Scott Vitt of St. Louis County claims Jackson slammed him to the club’s parking lot on Oct. 28, 2018.
Attorney Louis Meyer of Peoria filed the complaint against Washington Park and Jackson on May 28, alleging false arrest, excessive force, and malicious prosecution.
The suit claims that Vitt, acting as a sober driver for friends, began to record with his cellphone Jackson speaking to another individual.
Jackson allegedly shined a flashlight into Vitt’s face to prevent him from recording the encounter.
Jackson then allegedly told the individual in the encounter he was free to go, and called Vitt a vulgar name.
“As plaintiff was walking away, defendant Jackson yelled at plaintiff, ‘Take care fat ass,” Meyer wrote.
Vitt then allegedly told Jackson he had no right to insult him, and continued walking to his vehicle.
According to the suit, Jackson grabbed Vitt from behind and slammed him to asphalt.
“Plaintiff’s face and arms struck the ground,” Meyer wrote, and Jackson told Vitt he was under arrest.
“There was no probable cause or any other legal justification to arrest or seize plaintiff,” the suit claims.
Vitt was charged with trespass and resting an officer.
The suit says that an assistant state’s attorney who saw video of the encounter moved to dismiss the charges.
The court clerk assigned the suit to Magistrate Judge Reona Daly, who will preside unless either side declines magistrate jurisdiction.
Meyer has filed 19 suits in district court for arrested and incarcerated persons.
Last year he settled a suit for an anonymous female who sued St. Clair County sheriff Rick Watson and deputy Robert Sneed.
She claimed Sneed sexually assaulted her twice.
St. Clair County moved to dismiss the complaint and District Judge Staci Yandle denied the motion, finding Sneed acted in the scope of his employment.
In December, Meyer settled a claim that a correctional officer in Harrisburg pulverized a juvenile’s finger bone.
This March, Meyer settled a claim that two Pinckneyville correctional officers handcuffed inmate Martell Franklin and let another inmate beat him.