LITTLE ROCK, AR – Two men arrested at Ferneau restaurant last year, one beaten badly, filed a civil rights lawsuit in US District Court Monday.
The lawsuit names LRPD Lieutenant David Hudson, LRPD Chief of Police Stuart Thomas, the City of Little Rock, Donnie Ferneau, Ferneau LLC, and FF Restaurants LLC.
On October 29th of 2011, Chris Erwin and Blake Mitchell were arrested outside of the Ferneau restaurant in Hillcrest for trespassing at a private party.
Cell phone video shot at the scene shows Hudson repeatedly hitting Erwin in the face prior to his arrest.
The lawsuit alleges that the beating and arrest violated Erwin and Mitchell’s rights under the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 14th amendments. It also says Thomas and the City of Little Rock failed to properly train officers and permitted the use of excessive force.
You can read the full lawsuit here.
Erwin was charged with criminal trespass, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Mitchell was charged with criminal trespass, obstructing governmental operations, disorderly conduct, and public intoxication. In March,
a judge dismissed the charges against the pair.