Former inmate sues Louisville Metro Corrections Department alleging 'excessive force'
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A former inmate filed a lawsuit Monday against the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.
The suit names several officers from Metro Corrections alongside Lt. Col. Jerry Collins, director of LMDC, and alleges that officers struck former inmate Christian Lopes repeatedly in a "very strong and vigorous manner," according to court documents.
Documents show that the suit also alleges several other violent actions from officers. Officers allegedly pinned Lopes to the ground, rendering him unable to move; bent him over and threw him head first to the corner of a cell’s brick wall and detained Lopes in a chokehold.
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"They were trying to send a message to him and the rest of them, the inmates in the jail, that you shall not and will not even look like you have something to say when they speak to you," said Shaun Wimberly, who represents Lopes, in a video posted by WDRB.
Due to the "excessive force" officers were able to exercise on the "basis of their position of authority," Lopes appears to have "suffered extreme humiliation, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life, alienation, and mental anguish," the suit said.
"I don't really know what to do. I've been in trouble before in my past. I've paid my dues, but it's just devastating. There's nothing I can control about it," said Lopes in the video.
LMDC Spokesperson Maj. Darrell Goodlett said that the facility became aware of the lawsuit Wednesday.
"LMDC is reviewing the lawsuit and the allegations brought forward. LMDC is unable to comment further because of the pending litigation," he said in a statement.
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Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Dept. of Corrections accused of misconduct in new lawsuit
