LAGUNA BEACH : 5 Officers in Video Arrest File Claim

Five Laguna Beach police officers involved in the videotaped arrest of a homeless man have filed a $1-million claim against the city’s police chief, two other police supervisors and the city manager.

The officers, two of whom were fired over the incident, say they have been treated unfairly by the city and were “negligently trained and supervised” by the Police Department.

Police Chief Neil J. Purcell Jr. said Monday that he thinks the claim will probably lead to another lawsuit involving the arrest of Kevin A. Dunbar in June, 1990.

Just two weeks ago, city officials settled a legal dispute with Dunbar by agreeing to pay him $100,000 on the condition that Dunbar drop his federal lawsuit against the city.

Dunbar, 25, also offered to drop his lawsuit against the police officers at the scene of the arrest if the officers would drop their countersuit against him.

Two of the officers sued Dunbar for allegedly fighting with them during the arrest. The officers refused to drop the suit.

The arrest occurred outside a party in South Laguna. When police tried to handcuff Dunbar, he struggled on the ground with two of them, prompting Officer Keith R. Knotek to step forward and kick Dunbar twice in the upper right arm, officers said. An area resident videotaped the incident.

The Orange County Grand Jury concluded after an investigation that there was insufficient evidence to file police brutality charges against Knotek.

City officials admitted no wrongdoing by the police officers when the city’s lawsuit was settled two weeks ago. In March, however, Purcell fired Knotek, saying the kicks were excessive. Another officer, Dan Lowrey, was fired the next month for allegedly lying during a police investigation of the incident.

The claim against the police supervisors and city manager says the officers were fired “in violation of due process of the law.” City Manager Kenneth C. Frank called the charge “nonsense” and said proper procedures were followed in dismissing the officers. The city’s Personnel Board upheld Purcell’s decision to fire Knotek.

Attorneys for the officers who filed the claim could not be reached for comment Monday.

In addition to Purcell and Frank, the claim names Deputy Police Chief James Spreine and Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser. In addition to Knotek and Lowrey, the other officers filing the claim are Richard Lopes, Jason Kravetz and Michael Donohue.