Man makes $2 million claim for Mesa police use-of-force incident

PHOENIX — A man has made a claim against the city of Mesa and eight officers for $1.974 million over damages caused when he was beaten by police while unarmed.

Representatives for Robert Johnson, 35, sent notice of the claim to the city on Tuesday.

The city declined comment due to pending litigation.

The claim details the May 23 incident and says Johnson has sought medical treatment for his physical, mental and emotional injuries.

It said Johnson is still being treated by a psychologist and that his physical injuries “have not stabilized and may never stabilize.”

Video of the incident showed Johnson talking on his phone in a corridor as officers approach and instruct him to sit down. He did not follow directions, but instead leaned against the wall with the phone in his hand.

The officers began to punch Johnson in the head repeatedly and tried to hold him down.

Charges of disorderly conduct and hindering prosecution were dismissed on June 14.

On Aug. 27, a Scottsdale Police Department investigation concluded that the use of police force “was legally authorized and justified.”

Two days later, the Mesa Police Department announced that the FBI would investigate the incident as well.

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