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Man Acquitted of Murder Sues Officials, Deputies

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A man acquitted of a 1990 Pasadena murder has filed a $10-million civil rights lawsuit against Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block, Pasadena Police Chief Bruce Philpott, 18 sheriff’s deputies and four Pasadena police officers. Also named is Los Angeles County and the city of Pasadena.

The lawsuit on behalf of Michael Peterson, 22, was filed Jan. 24 in Los Angeles federal court by attorney Stephen Yagman. It alleges that Pasadena police violated Peterson’s civil rights by beating him when he was arrested in the July 22 drive-by shooting of Jimmy Wilburn, and by pressuring witnesses to give false testimony against him.

The lawsuit also claims that sheriff’s deputies beat Peterson in October and November while he was in County Jail. Pasadena and county officials refused comment.

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