Federal judge throws out police retaliation claim

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a man who says the police retaliated against him and charged with him a crime after he complained against officers.

The Seattle Times reports that a judge ruled that Donald Fuller failed to prove his constitutional rights were violated.

Officers stopped Fuller in 2009 for jaywalking. When he refused to show identification, the encounter escalated and police used a Taser and handcuffed him. Fuller spent four days in jail but prosecutors did not file charges.

Fuller filed a complaint claiming the officers used excessive force and the case was assigned to a sergeant who Fuller claims tried to get him charged with a crime. The officers were exonerated, but a prosecutor came back and charged Fuller with misdemeanor assault and obstruction. He sued claiming the investigator violated a policy that says filing a complaint won't impact criminal proceedings.