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Police Choked Innocent Huntington Beach Man, Says Lawsuit

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Photo by bcmacsac1 via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

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A Huntington Beach man who claims that he was the victim of police brutality is suing his city, reports the OC Register. Kevin Anastasi alleges that in 2009, he called police to report two stray dogs. When authorities arrived, he was holding a metal pole to ward off the dogs if they attacked, he says. Police drew their weapons, ordered him to drop the pole, forced him to the ground and choked him to the point of unconsciousness. He claims that neighbors were ignored and even insulted when they tried to tell police that they were making a mistake.

Anastasi plead not guilty to charges of resisting an officer, and the case was dropped in 2010. He is seeking $25,000 in damages.

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