A Hammond man suing the Gary Police Department claims officers used excessive force when they beat and punched him in the head during a 2013 arrest.
According to the lawsuit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court in Hammond, Jose Marquez was driving on 5th Avenue on Aug. 25, 2013, when he was pulled over.
The lawsuit claims that three officers — Cpl. Timothy Komoscar, Patrolman Del Flores and former Cpl. Stephen Otten — removed him from the car and then threw him to the ground, where they hit and kicked him the face.
They then arrested Marquez, although the lawsuit does not say on what charges, and took him to the Gary Jail.
The lawsuit says Marquez suffered injuries, although it does not describe them.
The three officers are all named as defendants, as are the city, the police department and other unknown officers. A representative for the defendants could not be reached for comment.
Marquez is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.