PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia cops are accused of using excessive force when responding to a late-night argument in a parking lot.
Jonathan D. Williams filed a lawsuit July 15 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against the City of Philadelphia, Lt. Michael R. Frisco, and unnamed police officers.
The suit alleges that around 2 a.m. on July 15, 2022, Williams was subjected to excessive force by the defendants outside Charley B’s II bar in Philadelphia.
Williams was leaving the bar with his girlfriend and another woman when a man approached them in the parking lot, the suit says. An argument began, resulting in pushing and shoving and a threat from the man that he was going to shoot Williams.
Williams claims police on the scene chose to strike him with a baton, tase him and aggressively handcuff him despite being cooperative. The complaint includes counts under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, supervisory liability, Monell claims against the City of Philadelphia for inadequate training and policies, and state law claims for assault and battery. Williams seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Jason Parris of Abramson & Denenberg represents the plaintiff.