A U.S. District Court judge this week denied a motion to dismiss a civil lawsuit claiming that former police officer Evan Cossette used excessive force against a prisoner and interfered with his medical needs during an arrest in October 2010.
Robert Methvin filed a federal lawsuit in 2011 against Cossette claiming the officer used his knee to strike him in the mouth after he was handcuffed and lying face down on concrete. Methvin suffered cuts to his mouth and face that required sutures.
Cossette, son of Police Chief Jeffry Cossette, asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit because Methvin had pleaded guilty to interfering with police during his arrest, and because police officers are allowed some discretionary use of force when handling combative subjects.