Lawsuit claims assault, false arrest

A woman has sued the Huntington Beach Police Department, its chief, one of its officers and the city after claiming she was falsely imprisoned and beaten by an officer while on a night out in downtown.

Marcia Moses filed the lawsuit in January claiming Officer Trevor Jackson used excessive force, battered, assaulted and falsely arrested her on March 26.

The lawsuit, which came after the city denied another claim Moses filed in August, claims Chief Ken Small is responsible because he didn’t property train his officers or reprimand them after the incident.

Moses said she’s suffered physical, mental and emotional pain, including post-traumatic stress syndrome, a broken wrist, a concussion, and has been having nightmares.

Lt. Mitch O’Brien said officers were flagged down around 2 a.m. to break up a fight at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and 3rd Street.

“The officers were making a lawful arrest on two subjects that were fighting, and [Moses] intervened with the arrest and tried to stop the officers,” O’Brien said. “Ultimately, she was arrested.”

There was use of force that led to her being sent to a hospital, O’Brien said.

“She was examined by a physician and she was cleared to be booked into the city jail,” he said. “We had no knowledge of broken bones.”

Brian Ellis, Moses’ lawyer, declined comment on the allegations.

mona.shadia@latimes.com

Twitter: @MonaShadia