Man Sues Over Alleged Beating at Riot
A man who claims he was beaten repeatedly by police for no reason during a riot at a surfing contest last August sued the City of Huntington Beach and the contest promoters Friday.
Jim D. McKinney, 19, of Huntington Beach was a spectator at the Op Pro Surfing Competition when a riot broke out the day before Labor Day. When he tried to comply with police orders to clear the area, McKinney was struck several times by baton-wielding police officers, he claimed.
“He got beat down,” said McKinney’s lawyer, Timothy J. Ryan. “Then he got up, and he got beat down again. They finally let him go. But they banged on him pretty good.”
McKinney alleges that he suffered a broken wrist and is claiming damages of at least $25,000.
Defendants in the lawsuit were the City of Huntington Beach, the City of Anaheim, which Ryan said provided reserve officers to help quell the riot, and Ocean Pacific Sunwear Ltd., which Ryan identified as the sponsor of the contest.
McKinney had attended the event with a group of friends, Ryan said.
Thirteen people were arrested and charged in connection with the disturbances.
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