Vermont's largest city has denied accusations in two federal lawsuits that police officers used excessive force in separate episodes outside Burlington bars in September 2018.
In one lawsuit filed in May, a man says an officer shoved him with both hands without announcing his presence. The man fell backward, hit his head on a wall and was knocked out, the lawsuit states. In the second lawsuit, a man accuses another officer of slamming him to the ground, knocking him unconscious, without first announcing himself or issuing any instructions. Police body cameras captured both encounters.
A lawyer for the city, its police chief and officers involved filed a response on Monday, denying that the officers used excessive force.
The suits seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Prosecutors have dropped all charges against the men suing.
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