ARIZONA NEWS

Mesa man sues police department, city over alleged brutality

Oct 3, 2018, 3:52 PM | Updated: 5:41 pm

(Facebook/Mesa Police Department)...

(Facebook/Mesa Police Department)

(Facebook/Mesa Police Department)

PHOENIX – A Valley man who was arrested last year filed a civil lawsuit for brutality against the Mesa Police Department, alleging he was viciously beaten for no reason and choked until he lost consciousness.

Christian Ivan Topete was arrested in October 2017 and charged with two counts of aggravated assault on an officer and one count each of resisting arrest, assault, criminal damage and unlawful imprisonment.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on Tuesday, police went to Topete’s apartment after a neighbor reported hearing an argument.

The suit said Topete and Karina Lopez had been arguing about their son, but there was no physical altercation or complaint by Lopez.

The police booking report, however, said Topete was seen hitting Lopez in the face, and she said she feared for her safety.

It also said Topete failed to obey commands and tried to pull away, which led to the physical altercation. The report also indicated that he was under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.

“In the course of the incident, officers made contact with Christian Topete. While attempting to detain him, a use-of-force encounter occurred,” Mesa Police Detective Nik Rasheta said in a statement.

He also said the case was being investigated by the professional standards unit.

According to the lawsuit, Topete was on his couch, unarmed, when officers arrived, and he did not resist or do anything to provoke being physically attacked while his 2-year-old son was sleeping in the next room.

Topete is seeking unspecified compensation for damages, punitive damages and attorney’s fees.

The lawsuit says the beating left Topete with a fractured nose, bruised ribs, two black eyes, lacerated lips and broken blood vessels in both eyes.

It also cited mental, physical, emotional and familial distress and economic damages.

The suit names the city of Mesa, the Mesa Police Department, Chief Ramon Batista and two officers, Kristen Johnson and Nathan Sund, as defendants.

The department has been under scrutiny for multiple allegations of brutality.

In August, it was announced that the FBI would be investigating two of the incidents.

The Scottsdale Police Department has completed investigations of two incidents and determined that no charges were warranted in either case.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Editorial members of the Austin American-Statesman's Austin NewsGuild picket along the Congress Ave...

Associated Press

Hundreds of journalists strike to demand leadership change at biggest US newspaper chain

Journalists at two dozen local newspapers across the U.S. walked off the job Monday to demand an end to painful cost-cutting measures and a change of leadership at Gannett, the country's biggest newspaper chain.

20 hours ago

(Unsplash Photo)...

KTAR.com

2 young children hospitalized in critical condition following crash in Glendale

Two young children and a total of five people were hospitalized in critical condition Monday following a multivehicle crash in Glendale.

20 hours ago

(Facebook Photo/Quantá for AZ)...

KTAR.com

Quantá Crews selected to replace Flavio Bravo in Arizona House

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Quantá Crews on Monday to replace Flavio Bravo in the Arizona House.

20 hours ago

File phot of the back of a Phoenix, Arizona, police officer. The Phoenix Police Department unveiled...

Kevin Stone

Phoenix Police Department unveils strategic plan to reduce crime

The Phoenix Police Department on Monday unveiled a strategic plan that takes a community and victim-centered approach to reducing crime.

20 hours ago

Booking photo of Raul Perez Ochoa and a file photo of a Gilbert Police Department cruise. Ochoa, an...

KTAR.com

East Valley massage therapist accused of sexual offenses

An East Valley massage therapist accused of sexual offenses was arrested last week, and police are looking for more possible victims.

20 hours ago

Stock image of a Fourth of July fireworks display. The Fabulous Phoenix 4th fireworks show and Four...

Kevin Stone

Boom, it’s back: Fabulous Phoenix 4th fireworks show returns after 3-year hiatus

The Fabulous Phoenix 4th fireworks show and festival is returning this year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the city announced.

20 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Here are the biggest tips to keep your AC bill low this summer

PHOENIX — In Arizona during the summer, having a working air conditioning unit is not just a pleasure, but a necessity. No one wants to walk from their sweltering car just to continue to be hot in their home. As the triple digits hit around the Valley and are here to stay, your AC bill […]

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

5 mental health myths you didn’t know were made up

Helping individuals understand mental health diagnoses like obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder or generalized anxiety disorder isn’t always an easy undertaking. After all, our society tends to spread misconceptions about mental health like wildfire. This is why being mindful about how we talk about mental health is so important. We can either perpetuate misinformation about already […]

(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

Here’s what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.

Mesa man sues police department, city over alleged brutality