GALVESTON – A Harris County woman is suing the City of Galveston after one of its police officers allegedly assaulted her at a bar earlier this year.
In a lawsuit filed Sept. 12 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas, Kaylie Gentry explains that she and her friends were about to leave Tsunami’s in the early hours of last Feb. 6 when the incident in question occurred.
Gentry, a 27-year-old nurse, says as she was waiting on one of her friends, a Galveston police officer in uniform approached her and told her to leave, stating she told the officer that she was waiting on her friend.
The officer, who court papers identify as “Officer Lopez,” purportedly ordered the plaintiff to leave and “forcefully” grabbed under her right arm and threw her to the ground.
“Kaylie began screaming due to excruciating pain in her lower left leg and left foot,” the suit says.
“Kaylie could not move her left leg or left ankle due to extreme pain.”
The suit further shows that Lopez, who is also a defendant in the case, left the scene while bar staff and Gentry’s friends assisted her.
The plaintiff was later taken to Clear Lake Regional Hospital where she was diagnosed with a broken fibula, the complaint says.
Per Gentry, she required two surgeries, as well as wore a splint and air boot for more than 14 weeks. The incident apparently kept her out of work for six months, as well as deprived her the ability to dance.
Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.
She is represented by attorney Randall L. Kallinen of the Law Office of Randall L. Kallinen PLLC in Houston.
Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case No. 3:16-CV-0246