The town of Keller agreed to pay $ 200,000 to a man who was sprayed with pepper spray and arrested after filming a police officer who stopped his son for making a right turn, according to his father’s lawyer.
Marco Puente filed a lawsuit in Fort Worth federal court last month against two Keller officers, alleging excessive force and illegal imprisonment in the August 15 incident.
According to the camera images of the police, Marco Puente’s son Dillon was stopped by the sergeant. Blake Shimanek for making a wide right turn.
Dillon Puente’s father soon appeared at the scene in a separate vehicle and started recording what was happening across the street.
It was then that Shimanek ordered another officer, Ankit Tomer, to arrest his father and apply pepper spray. Tomer was also quoted in the lawsuit.
The father and son were taken to prison, but police supervisors quickly dropped the charges after reviewing the case and Shimanek was demoted to an officer.
Keller’s City Council scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss a controversial police traffic stop and complaints of excessive use of force that resulted in a federal lawsuit.
Scott Palmer, a Puentes lawyer, said on Sunday that both sides agreed to resolve the case during a mediation session on Friday, when the city agreed to pay $ 200,000.
“The Puente family is pleased to have this unfortunate and unnecessary situation behind them,” Palmer and attorney James Roberts said in a statement. “This agreement will fairly compensate Dillon and Marco.”
The statement credits police chief Brad Fortune for acting quickly in “resolving the issues” in the case, but added: “It is disappointing that these officers still work in the Keller Police Department.”
Keller’s mayor Armin Mizani confirmed on Sunday that the mediation had taken place, but said he hoped the agreement would be signed by both parties.
The mayor declined to confirm that the deal was worth $ 200,000, but said the city itself would be limited to paying a $ 5,000 deductible. The Texas Municipal League, which insures the cities, will pay the rest, he said.
“The city plans to share details once everything is completed,” said Mizani.
A city spokeswoman also noted that the agreement has not been finalized, but said: “The city is pleased that a mediated agreement has been reached”.
The suit alleged that the sergeant was targeting young Puente because he was Hispanic and mistakenly believed he had drugs in his car.