CINCINNATI -- Former Bengals defensive tackle Matthias Askew filed a $50 million lawsuit against the city, accusing police officers of excessive force when they used a stun gun to subdue him while making an arrest in July.
The suit contends Askew was falsely arrested and maliciously prosecuted. It asks that the police department's policy on the use of force be declared unconstitutional.
The lawyer who filed the suit Thursday in U.S. District Court is seeking class-action status to include others who have been shocked with Tasers.
The 24-year-old player was acquitted last week on charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, failure to comply with an officer's order and obstructing justice.
Police arrested Askew on July 22 after a dispute broke out over his illegally parked car. The 6-foot-5, 302-pound lineman struggled with officers trying to handcuff him and broke away before being shocked, police said.
Askew, a fourth-round draft choice in 2004 from Michigan State, has been hampered by injuries and was cut by the Bengals on Aug. 15.
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