March 5, 2005 Saudi man files federal lawsuit against Eugene police
By WILLIAM McCALL
Associated Press Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. - A Saudi man filed a $5 million federal civil rights lawsuit on Friday against police in Eugene, claiming he was beaten "Rodney King-style" when officers responded to a fight at a bowling alley two years ago.
Mohammed Al-Nesayan claims he was beaten after he and his younger brother had left the bowling alley and were walking down the street on March 6, 2003.
"Between the official documents, eyewitness accounts and the police car videotape, it is clear that this was a Rodney King-style beating totally disproportionate to any appropriate professional use of force," said Kelly Clark, attorney for Al-Nesayan.
The fight followed an argument between Al-Nesayan and his brother and two men from Mexico.
A police video of the arrest showed a fight between Al-Nesayan and officers that left him bloodied.
Al-Nesayen was sentenced in January to a year and a half on probation after he was convicted of attempted assault on a police officer.
Lane County Circuit Judge Gregory Foote reduced the sentence to probation after he determined police exceeded their authority to control a suspect, actually resulting in punishment before any court hearing or conviction.
"This court believes that the actions of certain police officers on this occasion involved an element of punishment, and that this should be reflected in the court's sentence," Foote said at the January sentencing hearing.
One of the officers resigned after an investigation into the beating.
Pam Olshanski, Eugene police spokeswoman, said police had not seen a copy of the lawsuit but it would be referred to the city's attorney.
The complaint alleges that Al-Nesayan suffered "permanent emotional and psychological injury," and possible permanent brain damage.
Clark said that "even if some force were justified, there is simply no excuse for several police officers to beat a subdued and restrained man."
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
This is not the first time a Saudi National gets beaten by the police and it won't be the last. I have lived in the USA for a while and I have seen Saudi Nationals got beaten by police, got kicked out of Universities, were called names in classrooms as Sand Niger, Bedouins, Terrorists and many others, were harassed by local Americans and refused medical treatments in hospitals.
Some Saudis were offered big money from CIA, FBI, ATF and other US government officials. Some were offered money to play part of movies and plays as terrorists from the Middle East. Some were offered money to spy on mosques and Saudi Students clubs and other Arab Nationals.
I know from the past, this is not going to be stopped and we will see many incidents happen to Saudi and Arab Nationals. It is better if we send our children to other countries to get their education and for those who seeks medical treatments better seek somewhere else. India is a good country to get medical treatments. It is only cheap but very good results as well.
Thank you.
