(Iowa Capital Dispatch) -A city in the east-central part of Iowa is facing a fourth federal lawsuit tied to the alleged actions of one former police officer. In 2023, City officials in Toledo publicly condemned one of its police officers, Kyle Howe, for multiple instances of excessive force. Howe resigned in the midst of an internal investigation that involved a review of various body-camera videos involving several individuals he had arrested.
In September 2023, two separate lawsuits were filed against Howe and the City of Toledo in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, each alleging false arrest, assault, battery, negligent supervision and civil rights violations.
In November, a third lawsuit was filed in federal court on behalf of 72-year-old Steven Horrigan of Chelsea, alleging battery, excessive force, false arrest, assault and negligent supervision and training.
This past week, with those three lawsuits still pending, a fourth lawsuit was filed against Howe and the city.
The new case was filed on behalf of Cynthia McSweeney of Tama, who alleges that on March 12, 2022, Howe and fellow Toledo police officers Anthony Rodriguez went to her home to investigate an alleged theft by her son. After McSweeney observed her son being arrested, she allegedly asked Howe, “What if I would like to press charges against –,” at which point Howe allegedly cut her off, grabbed her right arm and told her, “You’re going to jail, too.”
The lawsuit claims Howe violently forced McSweeney to the ground, breaking her glasses and bruising her body. “Howe’s use of force was excessive, as Cynthia was not aggressive or resisting arrest,” the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for civil rights violations, false arrest, battery, assault, negligent supervision and training, and abuse of process.
Howe and the city have yet to file a response to the lawsuit.
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