Florida Teen Wrongly Arrested In K-9 Attack, Files Lawsuit Against Orlando Police Department

Khier Casino, Thu, April 24, 2014

A Florida man has filed a lawsuit against the Orlando Police Department after one of its officers mistook him for a robbery suspect and was attacked by a K-9.

Isaiah Montanez, 19, was riding his bicycle on March 31, 2013 when he was dragged off his bike by Orlando Officer James Parker, who was looking for a suspect.

The cop then let his K-9 loose to take Montanez down and maul him.

“He is still very much traumatized,” Bradley Laurent, Montanez’ attorney, told WESH 2 News.

He was just riding along and all of a sudden he just gets yoked off his bicycle by a police officer and the dog is immediately released on him," Laurent told WFTV Orlando. According to a police report, Parker was searching in the same area at the time for a Hispanic robbery suspect, and he believed Montanez fit the description. Parker also saw another man, identified as Joshua Mejia, riding a bicycle with Montanez. The officer claims he ordered the duo to stop, but only Mejia listened to the command, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Montanez did not stop and “tried to pedal harder and go around me,” Parker said. That's when the officer pulled him off the bike. Montanez was charged with resisting arrest without violence, but the state attorney's office did not seek to prosecute and the case is now closed - See more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/crime/florida-teen-wrongly-arrested-k-9-attack-files-lawsuit-against-orlando-police#sthash.NW8JT4kX.dpuf