A Texas man who says he was a victim of excessive force by police and security at a Vikings game last season is suing the team, the Minneapolis Police Department, its chief and the officers who arrested him.
Texas man files excessive force lawsuit for 2016 arrest at Vikings stadium
The Texas man is asking for $75,000 in damages.
April 19, 2017 at 2:28AM
In a lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court, Anastacio Lopez, 34, says that as he was being led out of the stadium, he was "violently forced to the ground, struck in the ribs with a knee numerous times, punched in the face with a closed fist multiple times, repeatedly tased." He further accused the officers of using excessive force even though Lopez says he remained compliant throughout the encounter and that they singling him out because of his race.
The five members of the Minneapolis Police Department named as defendants in the lawsuit were: Russell Cragin and Anthony Rodin, both officers, Sgt. Michael Grahn, Lt. Angelo Fossum, Sgt. Stephen McCarty and Cmdr. Gerald Moore. Others named in the 19-page suit: the Vikings, Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau, Monterrey Security Consultants, Inc., Andrew Hodynsky, SMG, Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, Minnesota Vikings Football Stadium, LLC.
The suit is asking for $75,000 in damages.
At the heart of the suit is an incident that took place during a nationally televised matchup against Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 1, 2016.
According to the suit, Lopez, who had traveled from his hometown of Midland, Texas for the game, was approached by a uniformed officer who ordered Lopez to "accompany him to a security processing center" because he was being ejected from the stadium.
Large venues such as U.S. Bank regularly hire off-duty officers and sheriff's deputies to work security during sporting events and concerts. Lopez, who admitted that he was intoxicated during the arrest, alleges that when he turned his head to speak to one of the officers, Cragin and Rodin, suddenly and without provocation, pushed him to the ground and started punching and kicking him. The suit alleges that Cragin twice used his Taser to stun Lopez.
The episode reportedly left him with cuts, bruises and several broken bones.
A police incident report said that Lopez was booked into county jail on suspicion of trying to disarm an officer.
In a statement, City Attorney Susal Segal said that her office "will be defending the City's interests" against Lopez, who was later charged in connection with the case. Vikings spokesman Jeff Anderson said the team's policy is not to comment on pending litigation.
Police union president Lt. Bob Kroll said that he wasn't familiar with the specific incident, while adding that officers working off-duty at large-scale sporting events only intervene with unruly fans as a last resort.
"The cops that are working off-duty at events like football games, they don't do anything until asked by security," said Kroll. "The officers only get involved when security is having difficulty."
Spokespeople for the Vikings and Minneapolis police didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Libor Jany • 612-673-4064 Twitter:@StribJany
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