Kemah man sues police over beating

GALVESTON - A La Porte man claims three Kemah police officers beat him during a stop last year, recent court documents say.

Daniel Coots filed a lawsuit against the city of Kemah, the Kemah Police Department and the unnamed officers on Sept. 2 in Galveston County District Court.

According to the suit, Coots was on his way home in the early morning hours of Jan. 31, 2009, when he pulled into the parking lot of a Target and Home Depot to check for directions and was approached by the defendants.

Coots claims three Kemah police cruisers suddenly appeared "out of nowhere and officers jumped out with weapons drawn."

Authorities then ordered Coots out of his vehicle.

The complainant insists he complied with the police's requests and screams of "don't shoot," but the officers proceeded to mistreat him.

"One of the officers opened the door, forcibly grabbed Mr. Coots, and pulled him out of his car," the original petition says. "Mr. Coots was thrown to the concrete face down and severely beaten."

Coots additionally recalls waking up in severe pain at the Kemah City Jail and requesting for medical attention, the suit says.

He believes to have sustained fractured ribs and emotional distress as a result of the alleged incident.

Consequently, Coots seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

Attorney Papa M. Dieye of Houston is representing the plaintiff.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia.

Case No. 10-cv-2560