Newly released records show Pullman city officials have agreed to a $150,000 settlement with former WSU football player Treshon Broughton to resolve his federal lawsuit alleging Pullman police officers used excessive force during his 2017 arrest. A judge dismissed the case Tuesday based on a motion from both parties.
The settlement, finalized in July, releases the city and its officers from any related claims. Pullman police officers pulled Broughton to the ground and tasered him during his arrest at Bob’s Corner Market on Feb. 18, 2017. Surveillance video shows Broughton trying to show officers his ID and laughing during parts of the scuffle.
All charges against Broughton were later dismissed.
“The Parties acknowledge that [Broughton] claims to have suffered physical injuries from the alleged events of February 18, 2017, and that the settlement proceeds herein are to compensate [Broughton] for alleged physical injuries,” the settlement states.
Broughton, a former WSU cornerback, initially filed his lawsuit in October 2018, alleging excessive force, false reports and malicious prosecution. Read our previous coverage of the case and watch the surveillance video here.
Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins noted in an email Wednesday that the city’s insurance carrier made a “business decision” to resolve the case without exposing the city to additional liability risk at trial. Attorneys had estimated the cost of representing the city in court at close to $150,000 regardless of outcome.
Video footage of the arrest, first obtained by Whitman County Watch via a public records request, drew significant backlash on social media. The department later conducted a community workshop on use of force to explain common tactics.
Broughton’s settlement also included confidentiality language barring officials or attorneys from releasing the terms of the agreement unless required by a public records request. Whitman County Watch filed such a request earlier this week to obtain the records.
The newest settlement marks the third payout the city has made over police force or tactics since last year, including a $500,000 settlement in January for a 2016 incident and a $75,000 settlement in July 2018 over a 2015 incident.
Read the newly release Broughton settlement in full below: