Indiana man says police used excessive force in his arrest

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - A western Indiana man is suing local police, alleging that they violated his civil rights when they arrested him last year.

Fifty-year-old Jon Chris McKinney contends that a Vigo County Sheriff's deputy used excessive force while arresting him in April 2018.

The Tribune-Star reports that his federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the sheriff's department and the deputy seeks $700,000 in damages.

It alleges that McKinney was searching around his Vigo County home after hearing someone outside when he saw the deputy's cruiser.

The suit contends that McKinney stopped to speak to the deputy but they exchanged unpleasant words and the officer followed him home, became aggressive and battered him while trying to handcuff him.

Sheriff John Plasse declined to comment, saying he hadn't seen a copy of the complaint.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com