Only on 13: Surveillance video shows incident at heart of CSPD excessive force lawsuit

A Colorado man is suing nine Colorado Springs police officers in federal court, accusing them of excessive force.

The case stems from an altercation outside Cowboys nightclub in downtown Colorado Springs in July 2013.

The plaintiff, Grant Bloomquist, alleges the officers illegally arrested him and used excessive force.

Bloomquist’s Denver-based attorney, David Lane, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 his client witnessed officers beating an African-American man outside the club and verbally protested.

“Grant came out of the bar, he saw these cops beating that young man. He started yelling at them to stop, and they immediately jumped on him and began to beat him,” Lane said in a phone interview with KRDO.

According to the lawsuit, the officer tackled Bloomquist to the ground, causing him to hit his head and lose consciousness. The plaintiff alleges CSPD had no probable cause to arrest him and charge him with obstructing a peace officer. Bloomquist was acquitted of the charges in a jury trial.

“He was forced to go to trial on an assault charge that was a false charge,” Lane said. “A jury in Colorado Springs acquitted him of all charges, and we promptly on July 1 of this year filed a civil rights lawsuit against several police officers in the city of Colorado Springs.”

The Colorado Springs City Attorney’s Office will defend the nine officers in federal court. A Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson told KRDO NewsChannel 13 the department could not comment on the case since it’s in litigation.

Only KRDO NewsChannel 13 obtained surveillance video of the incident. It can be viewed in the video player above.