Butler man sues police, 3 officers in assault case

A Butler man has sued that city’s police department and three of its officers, who he says assaulted him.

John J. Jackson said in his federal complaint that officers violated his Fourth Amendment right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizure by tackling him and breaking his arm during an arrest last year.

On May 2, 2019, Mr. Jackson’s ex- girlfriend came to his apartment. He had recently bought a DVD from her. She demanded that he allow her inside so they could talk. He saw scratches on her face and asked where they came from, and she said from a fight with her new boyfriend, according to the suit.

She became agitated and demanded $ 50 for the DVD, then tried to force her way into the apartment, according to the complaint.

He stopped her, and she screamed through the door that she would “make him pay,” he said.

Later in the evening Mr. Jackson was walking to a friend’s house when Officer Myles Bizub, Officer Nathan Shulik and another officer identified as John Doe stopped him.

They yelled that he was under arrest, and Officer Bizub threatened to use his Taser, the complaint said. The officers then handcuffed him and took him to the police station, where he was told he was being arrested for assaulting his ex- girlfriend.

Mr. Jackson said he had done nothing wrong and argued his case. The complaint said the officers then attacked him. One of them tackled him and broke his arm, according to the suit. The officers later falsely claimed that Mr. Jackson had “made an aggressive move,” the complaint said. He was treated at Butler Hospital for a broken arm and charged with simple assault and resisting arrest.

On May 6 of this year, according to the suit, the charges were withdrawn.

Mr. Jackson is suing for assault and battery under the Fourth Amendment and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment, saying he was attacked and beaten without provocation.

The suit names Officers Bizub, Shulik, John Doe and the police department.

City officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.