QuickTake:

The lawsuit over a 2025 arrest, in which a man was Tasered, seeks unspecified damages.

An excessive force lawsuit alleges Eugene police slammed a man backward onto the concrete ground outside his home and then shocked him with a Taser after pinning him to the ground.

The Jan. 12, 2025, arrest of Troy Harty for resisting arrest and interfering with a police officer took place “[d]espite EPD’s own conclusion that there was no probable cause for the initial encounter,” according to the lawsuit, filed June 2 in U.S. District Court in Eugene.

After being shocked with a Taser, Harty “violently and uncontrollably convulsed, face down in handcuffs against the concrete, with the barbed Taser darts implanted in his skin,” according to the lawsuit filed against the city of Eugene and Michael Brelsford, a Eugene police officer.

The lawsuit alleges the arrest of Harty was unlawful, and that Brelsford “was required and had reasonable opportunity to warn Plaintiff that force would be used, and to provide an opportunity for Plaintiff to comply prior to using force, but failed to do so.”

A Eugene police spokesperson Tuesday, June 9, said they had no information to provide when asked about the lawsuit, which seeks an unspecified amount in noneconomic damages associated with Harty’s “physical and emotional harms, including but not limited to pain, fear, anxiety, humiliation, anger, PTSD, and inconvenience.”

The Eugene Police Department hired Brelsford in 2018, state records show.

In response to a question about the alleged lack of probable cause for the initial encounter, Kevin Yolken, an attorney representing Harty, said in an email: “At this time I am unable to disclose the contents of any confidential records or [body-worn camera] footage. EPD did not cite Mr. Harty for anything related to the dispute inside his apartment (the alleged basis for initial contact).”

The lawsuit states that police in the area of Harty’s apartment at 770 Tyler St. were approached by an apartment complex resident who “told officer Brelsford that two women could be heard arguing inside an apartment.” 

The resident told officers the dispute was verbal and not physical, and that a man lived alone in the apartment, before leading police to Harty’s apartment, according to the lawsuit.

Just before 1:30 p.m., Harty heard a knock on his window and stepped outside when police asked him to do so, the lawsuit states.

Brelsford then allegedly “began giving additional commands without explanation,” telling Harty “to go stand over there,” the lawsuit states.

Harty asked to get his service animal and reached for the door to his apartment, the lawsuit states, describing Harty as disabled, with a service animal “trained to perform tasks to assist with his disability.”

Brelsford is alleged to have then slammed the apartment door and pushed Harty against a wall, grabbing Harty’s shoulder and arm while another officer grabbed Harty’s other arm. 

“The two officers shouted conflicting commands and threatened to injure Plaintiff — still without any explanation — when Brelsford suddenly yanked Plaintiff’s jacket collar and slammed him backwards onto the concrete without warning,” the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit contends that “within seconds,” Brelsford “violently kneed Plaintiff twice in the ribcage while Plaintiff was pinned to the ground, disoriented, and with his jacket pulled up over his head.” 

Another officer is alleged to have then placed his body weight onto Harty, who was then shocked by Brelsford with a Taser while his jacket was still up over his head.

“The word ‘arrest’ was uttered for the first time after Defendant Brelsford had already beaten and Tased Plaintiff, and he was lying on the concrete incapacitated and pinned down by two officers,” the lawsuit states. “Brelsford then shouted at Plaintiff to ‘stop resisting arrest’ as the other two officers pulled Plaintiff’s arms behind his back to secure handcuffs.”