BRADENTON -- A Bradenton man is suing the city of Palmetto because he says his face was mauled by a police dog as he hid from officers in a swamp.
Eric Pace, 19, was arrested for driving with a suspended license on Jan. 22, 2003. Police chased him because they said Pace was driving a stolen car.
Pace was hiding in a swamp near the 3500 block of 10th Street West when Brix, the dog, was sent after him. Brix bit him on the face, head, shoulders and arms, according to the lawsuit.
Pace claims police used unreasonable force and didn't train the dog or the officer properly in how to take down a fugitive.
A lawsuit only provides one side of an argument. Palmetto Police Chief Gary Lowe declined to comment on the suit, which was filed in federal court.
He said Brix is no longer working with his department.
Pace is seeking unspecified medical and other damages from the city and from Kristopher S. Ahler, the officer in charge of Brix that night.
Pace's lawyer said the bites have left permanent scars on Pace's face, so that "when he cries he can't feel his tears anymore."
Pace has been arrested for burglary, grand theft and drug crimes in the past three years. He was last arrested in April on charges of cocaine and marijuana possession.
When Manatee County police arrested Pace on the drug charges, police reported Pace had a scar from a dog bite above his right eye.
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