Spencerville man claims police used excessive force

 A Spencerville man says Lima police officers punched him in the face and kicked him repeatedly after he was arrested without cause.  

19 year old Tyler Paxson is pleading not guilty to several charges in Lima Municipal Court concerning the Saturday morning incident.  Police arrested and charged Paxson with underage drinking, intoxication, resisting arrest, obstructing official business and falsification.  An assault charge was dropped.  Paxson says he was beaten and injured by police officers in the early morning hours on Saturday after he stopped by a friend's house on Haller Street.  Police were already in the area when he was knocking on the door.  When police asked him to identify himself, he says he told them that he was an American citizen, and he had the right to leave.  That's when he says an officer grabbed him and yanked him off the porch.  

"One guy dragged me up to a building and put my hands behind my back, and the first officer that came around a corner in the alley started beating me in my face.  Then they threw me to the ground and started beating me up even more.  Handcuffed and everything.  They then picked me up and let me sit on the ledge where I was, and I don't really remember much after that, honestly," said Paxson.

Paxson says he was not resisting arrest, and the charges are ridiculous.  He filed a complaint with the Lima Police Department.  Chief Kevin Martin says the department will conduct an investigation into the excessive force claim.  He says both witnesses and officers will be interviewed and cruiser camera video will be reviewed.   

"We will get all of the facts involved before we make a decision as to whether the officer acted appropriately or acted improperly.  So, bottom line is, right now, we're still in the process of gathering facts and as much information about the incidents as we can," said Chief Martin. 

The officers involved will continue working their shifts as the incident is being investigated.  Chief Martin says he does not know how long it will take to complete the investigation.