Man claims officer choked, injured him

A Huntington Beach resident has filed a claim against the city alleging that a Huntington Beach police officer threw him to the ground and choked him until he was unconscious.

In the claim filed last week, Kevin Anastasi alleges the officer violated his civil rights, failed to follow departmental policy, misrepresented the facts, didn’t properly investigate a situation and lied, mislead and coerced witnesses after he called 9-1-1. Anastasi is requesting more than $10,000 in damages.

Anastasi is being charged for obstructing and resisting a police officer during the incident by the Orange County district attorney, said Huntington Beach police Lt. Russ Reinhart.

Anastasi called emergency services after seeing two aggressive and out-of-control pit bulls trying to break into his house through a screen window in April, according to the claim. The dogs went away, but two officers arrived at the scene, and one called Anastasi a “fool” before handling him with force and choking him to unconsciousness, according to the claim.

The officers arrived at the scene because Anastasi said he had a handgun on him when he was talking to the emergency dispatcher, Reinhart said.

Reinhart said he couldn’t comment on the allegations because the incident is in litigation, but said Anastasi was uncooperative with the dispatcher and with the officers when they arrived.

The officers found out the dogs belonged to a neighbor and didn’t harm anyone, Reinhart said.

Anastasi claims to have hurt his head, neck, chest, back and shoulder during the incident.

Laurie Payne, a spokeswoman for the city, said in an e-mail that officials were still reviewing the claim.

Anastasi pleaded not guilty to the charges in May.

He is expected to begin pre-trial in December at the Westminster Justice Center.