Executive Sues Police in Newport Beach : $10-Million Suit Alleges Unfair Arrest and Beating by Officers

A Newport Beach advertising executive filed a $10-million lawsuit against the Newport Beach Police Department and the city, claiming that he was unfairly arrested and beaten by police.

The suit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that Everett Temme, 49, was accosted by an officer, then arrested and beaten following a traffic incident.

Temme, as he came to the intersection of Bayside Drive and Coast Highway in Newport Beach on June 17, attempted to make a left turn. An officer, who was directing traffic at the intersection because the signals were not functioning, approached Temme’s car and said he could not make the turn, according to Temme’s attorney, Stephen Yagman.

“The officer was screaming and yelling obscenities at him,” Yagman said. Temme was stunned at the officer’s conduct and began to drive away. The officer then allegedly threw a flashlight through the rear window of Temme’s BMW and reported the incident to the police dispatcher, according to Yagman.

Meanwhile, Temme drove to his yacht, “had two quick drinks” to calm his nerves and called the Newport Beach Police Department to report the officer’s behavior, Yagman said.

Police Find Car

About 20 minutes later, police arrived at the marina and found Temme’s damaged car. The dispatcher called Temme on his boat and asked him to come out and meet with the officers, according to Yagman.

Yagman said the two officers then “jumped” Temme and beat him. Temme was arrested for allegedly being drunk in public and for allegedly assaulting police with a deadly weapon--stemming from the earlier incident when Temme drove away from the officer at the intersection.

After spending 12 hours in jail, Temme posted the $25,000 bail. The Orange County district attorney’s office declined to press charges and the matter was dropped, Yagman said.

Temme, a partner in Temme & Thurman Co., was out of the office Thursday and unavailable for comment.