A former WSU football player has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Pullman Police Department, alleging use of excessive force and malicious prosecution following his 2017 arrest at Bob’s Corner Market in Pullman.
Treshon Broughton, who graduated in 2017 after two seasons at cornerback, filed the lawsuit through his Lewiston attorney on Oct. 30. Court records also name Officers Alex Gordon and Shane Emerson as well as the City of Pullman as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges the officers tasered and pinned down Broughton without probable cause, misrepresented events in police reports, and violated his Constitutional rights to a fair trial and equal protection by pursuing false charges.
“(The officers’) actions were an extreme deviation from reasonable standards of conduct and were performed with an understanding of and disregard for their likely consequences,” the lawsuit states.
Emerson and Gordon arrested Broughton on Feb. 18, 2017 after he allegedly tried to buy a lighter with a counterfeit $20 bill, the Spokesman Review reported. Broughton was booked on misdemeanor resisting arrest and obstructing a law enforcement officer. The lawsuit states the charges were later dismissed.
Pullman police officials told Whitman County Watch they could not comment on pending civil litigation.
The lawsuit states someone at Bob’s Corner Market initially called 911, but then told dispatchers they no longer needed help. Dispatchers reportedly relayed the caller’s message to responding officers that the dispute “had been resolved.”
“Despite being notified that there were no issues at Bob’s Corner Market, the defendant officers arrived and made contact with Broughton,” the lawsuit alleges. “Before (he) had time to comply with the demand for identification, Officer Emerson grabbed Broughton’s arm and started to physically assault Broughton and forced Broughton to the ground.”
The lawsuit states Gordon then tasered Broughton while he was on the ground, causing “temporary paralysis … (and) severe pain.” Officers then knelt on top of Broughton and cuffed him. Medics later removed the barbed taser darts.
“At no time during Emerson and Gordon’s interaction with Broughton did Broughton commit any crime or resist or obstruct the defendant officers,” the lawsuit alleges, adding, “The physical force used upon Broughton was excessive, unnecessary and objectively unreasonable under the circumstances.”
During the scuffle, Broughton’s drivers license was knocked to the ground, the lawsuit states. Police later reported they did not find any counterfeit money in his possession.
Authorities booked Broughton into jail where he allegedly stripped off his clothes, flooded his cell and was twice strapped into a restraint chair, the Spokesman reports.
“Gordon and Emerson prepared police reports which intentionally misrepresented events in an effort to support the false criminal charges,” the lawsuit further alleges, “and in an effort to justify the officers’ unlawful conduct and were done with malice and with an intent to deprive (Broughton) of his civil and constitutional rights.”
The lawsuit calls for a jury trial to determine damages for Broughton, who now lives in California. No monetary value appeared to be listed.
The city has not yet filed any response to the claims. Whitman County Watch has requested police incident records related to this case.
The department also faces a second ongoing excessive force lawsuit stemming from a 2016 incident at Jack in the Box. The city settled a third lawsuit over a 2015 incident earlier this year.
Broughton lawsuit complaint, Oct. 30, 2018 by Whitman County Watch on Scribd