4 Acquitted of Charges of Resisting Arrest at Party : Courts: Three brothers and another man who got into a melee with officers say the verdict supports their allegations of police brutality.

Four Oxnard men who were on trial for resisting arrest but contended that they were the victims of police brutality at a graduation party were acquitted Friday by a Ventura County Superior Court jury.

The defendants hugged and wept after the court clerk read the verdicts.

“I feel relieved,” said Alex Flores, 19, who had faced three misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest. “It’s finally over.”

His brother, Anthony Flores, 22, who had been charged with five such counts, said the verdict supports the defense’s allegation that Oxnard police officers beat him and other party guests without provocation.

“I think they are going to think twice before they do again what they did to us,” he said.

In addition to Alex and Anthony Flores, another brother, Luis Flores Jr., 24, and party-goer Aurelio Guerrero, 19, were acquitted of a total of nine misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest. A 10th count of resisting arrest against Anthony Flores was dismissed by Ventura County Superior Court Judge John J. Hunter after the jury failed to agree on a verdict.

Each charge carried a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The four men are among 11 party-goers who have each filed $6-million claims against the city for physical or emotional harm they say they suffered during the incident. Two of those who filed claims--Anthony and Alex Flores--were treated at an area hospital for injuries, including gashes on their heads. Such claims must be submitted before a lawsuit can be filed against the city.

Defense attorneys said a lawsuit seeking compensation from the city for physical and emotional injuries suffered at the party is being drafted.

The criminal charges and allegations of police brutality stem from a June 15 graduation party that turned into a free-for-all after police responded to a complaint about loud music.

Richard W. Hanawalt, the attorney who represented Anthony Flores, said the verdict indicates that the jury believed Oxnard police officers used excessive force during the incident.

During the three-week trial, defense lawyers called to the witness stand several party guests who said they were beaten by police or were witnesses to the alleged brutality.

One witness, David Meza, 29, said he was beaten for trying to take photographs of the violence.

During her closing arguments Thursday, Deputy Dist. Atty. Mandee Sanderson said the officers used justifiable force to defend themselves when they beat the men with flashlights and batons. She also told the jury that she believes some of the testimony from party guests may have been exaggerated.

“They saw people they love being arrested,” she said. “They saw people they love being injured. They were pretty upset.”

Lawyers for the defendants argued that the men were simply protecting themselves from the police beatings.

“If Alex’s head were a baseball, he would have hit it out of the stadium,” Joseph H. Lax, one of three defense attorneys, said of Police Officer James O’Brien.

Defense lawyers accused police of filing the criminal charges in an attempt to divert attention from the alleged brutality.

“This case has tons of problems with the officers trying to clean up the case,” Hanawalt said. “When police officers make a mistake, they charge an offense.”

The fracas began when Officer Nelson Latimer and three other officers went to the house of Luis Flores Sr. in the 1300 block of South E Street to respond to a complaint about a loud party, according to testimony.

Latimer testified early in the trial, saying the ensuing melee began when Anthony Flores shoved him against a wall. Anthony Flores testified that it was Latimer who started the brawl by pushing him.

Both sides agree that a bloody confrontation between party guests and about 20 officers followed the shoving match.

After the trial, Luis Flores Sr. hugged his son Alex. “We made it, man,” he said. “We accomplished something we didn’t think we could do.”