A Renton man has filed a federal civil lawsuit claiming two Renton police officers used unreasonable force when they arrested him. Jessy Frederickson, 21, said Officers Jon Schuldt and Brad Tofthagen, who has since retired on a medical disability, ordered a dog to bite him when they answered a call in Renton, violating his constitutional rights.
The suit was filed last month in federal district court by Seattle attorney John Muenster.
The incident occurred on May 21, 2000, about 2:45 a.m. when police were called to a car prowl in progress in the 3700 block of Northeast Fourth Street. They found a parked car in an apartment complex with a cracked window. Witnesses told police they had heard a window break and then saw two men run into the woods to the east.
Renton police K9 Scout, acting under Schuldt's control, found Frederickson sitting next to a tree and jumped on him, knocking him to his back, and began biting his leg, the suit alleges.
Frederickson was arrested on suspicion of complicity to malicious mischief, a misdemeanor. He was taken to jail and later to a hospital.
He received a citation, but a judge later dismissed the charge.
Muenster claims that police used unreasonable force without evidence that Frederickson was involved in the window breaking.
Penny Bartley, spokeswoman for the Renton Police Department, said she was unaware of the suit and the case. The Renton city attorney did not return calls for comment.
The suit does not specify how much Frederickson is seeking in damages.
Leslie Fulbright: 206-515-5637
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