Lawsuit Charges Newport Police Injured Irvine Youth

A 16-year-old Irvine resident filed a $10-million federal civil rights lawsuit Wednesday against the City of Newport Beach and its Police Department.

In the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Robert D. Harrison alleged that he was beaten by two officers after he was arrested on Sept. 21. The suit says Harrison suffered eye and brain damage when arresting officers applied a chokehold on him.

Newport Police Lt. Gary Petersen said he had not seen the suit.

A police report said Harrison was arrested after officers spotted him drinking beer with a friend. The youths were in the Back Bay area. They were placed in the car without handcuffs.

“Harrison began screaming, kicking and yelling obscenities,” Petersen said, quoting from the arresting officer’s report. He said the officer stopped the car and radioed for help.

Petersen said Harrison said later that he was upset because he could not “cope” with going to jail. Harrison’s attorney, Stephen Yagman, said no charges were filed against Harrison, who was released to his grandmother.