QuickTake:

The plaintiff, Ruben Alexander Lira, seeks damages to be decided by a jury but not to exceed $358,691.57.

A California man alleges he was falsely arrested and sustained injuries when Eugene police officers yanked him out of his vehicle after he did not voluntarily step out when told he was detained.

Ruben Alexander Lira filed a lawsuit July 9 in Lane County Circuit Court against the city of Eugene, the Eugene Police Department, and four Eugene police officers.

Lira’s lawsuit states he was temporarily living in Eugene seeking work as a wildland firefighter when officers, on Aug. 5, 2024, approached his vehicle in response to a report of a “possible domestic disturbance” on the 2300 block of West 11th Avenue.  

The “potential alleged victim,” seated in the driver’s seat, told an officer there was no domestic violence or abuse, and there were no visible signs of abuse, the lawsuit states.

Lane Doggett, a Eugene police officer, and another officer, Jackson Stramler, approached Lira, with Doggett opening the passenger door of the vehicle without asking permission, the lawsuit states.

When Lira declined to exit the vehicle, “Doggett told Mr. Lira he could either ‘get out of the car, or [he was] going to pull [Mr. Lira] out of the car and [he would] put him in handcuffs,’” the lawsuit states, adding that Lira then stated, “Sir, please explain to me why.”

Doggett is alleged to have then grabbed Lira’s wrist and “yanked on it,” with Stramler then bending Lira’s “arm backwards around the car door frame.” Doggett is alleged to have grabbed Lira’s hair, pulling him out of the vehicle, and other officers restrained Lira, at various times grabbing and pulling on his limbs.

Lira alleges he sustained physical injuries “in the form of contusions and abrasions, hair pulled from his scalp, soreness in his knees causing him to limp, and strained elbows.”

The lawsuit alleges Lira was arrested and cited for second-degree disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, but “acquitted of both charges at trial” in Eugene Municipal Court.

Lira’s lawsuit seeks no more than $8,691.57 in actual damages such as attorney bills to be decided by a jury, as well as no more than $350,000 in damages relating to mental anguish, emotional distress and other psychological injuries.

In addition to Doggett and Stramler, officers Brett Winther and Kevin Bunday are named as defendants. An EPD spokesperson declined to comment on the pending lawsuit.

Lira is represented by Eugene-based attorney Matthew L. Watkins.