A new $2.5 million notice of claim against the city of Phoenix alleges that police beat a security guard and then lied about it in court.
The claim, which is required before launching a lawsuit, says Israel DeVoe was told he’d been pulled over in November of 2024 for driving too fast on Indian School Road.
DeVoe was reportedly working security and on his way to a job site when he asked Phoenix police officers how fast he’d been going.
“Instead, officers gave him conflicting commands that were impossible to comply with. And then became extremely violent,” said Jesse Showalter, DeVoe’s attorney.
Showalter said officers slammed his client’s head into the ground but never charged him with speeding.
Instead they accused DeVoe of assault and resisting arrest.
He was acquitted of the charges at trial, but the criminal case cost him his job.
Showalter said the video shows his client had his hands up and was trying to follow commands as three officers attacked him.
“My hope is that the city will conduct an investigation into these officers. Look at whether or not they lied on the stand. Look at the excessive force that was shown in the video,” Showalter said.
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