A Kennedale man has filed a lawsuit against two North Texas police officers, accusing them of excessive force in a 2020 arrest.
According to the complaint, Mansfield Police Officer Brian Raines allegedly struck Clinton Grimsley 16 times in the face with his flashlight. The suit further alleges that four other officers were holding Grimsley down, and the “use of deadly force” was unjustified.
Grimsley claimed he heard officers say after the incident, “We roughed him up pretty good. It will be significant use of force. I ended up getting a bunch of blood in my mouth — it’s like a bitter taste.”
The suit, filed in Tarrant County, also names Kennedale Police Officer Christopher Kjelsen as a defendant.
“This case is a clear example of when an officer exceeds the level of force required in a given situation by using excessive deadly force in violation of the Constitution,” James Roberts, one of Grimsley’s attorneys, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in an email.
Both officers named in the suit submitted responses to the court on June 13. Kjelsen admitted that Grimsley was hit in the head during a struggle but defended the officers’ actions, arguing Grimsley refused to comply, struck multiple officers, and attempted to take control of their tasers and handguns during the struggle.
In Raines’ response, he denied violating Grimsley’s rights or that any force was unjustified. He admitted that he hit Grimsley in the head with his hand and flashlight but denied hitting him 16 times and having laughed about the incident.
Kjelsen and Raines also filed a motion to dismiss on June 13, saying that, as officers, they have qualified immunity from federal claims.
Grimsley suffered several lacerations to his face and head, a fractured left orbital, and permanent scarring, the lawsuit states.
For his part in the incident, Grimsley was charged with assault on a peace officer, evading arrest, and resisting arrest, according to Tarrant County criminal court records. The charge of assaulting a peace officer was dismissed, but he was sentenced to 150 days in jail for the other charges.