A Lawrence firefighter suing the city says he voiced his disapproval over what he deemed to be police brutality, and then left the scene under arrest and with a broken arm.
The lawsuit, which accuses the Lawrence Police Department of using both excessive and negligent force, could cost the city nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
Witnesses say one officer bashed a man's head against a squad car, then "manhandled" and "beat" Lawrence firefighter Miguel Armenta after police arrived at Lawrence's VFW hall, 1801 Massachusetts St., to break up an argument on the afternoon of April 19, 2014.
However, police say nobody was beaten and that officers acted within their rights to keep the peace.
Armenta and his attorney, Jerry Levy, filed the civil lawsuit on Oct. 20, 2014. A jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin in September.