Baltimore's spending panel is set to pay $80,000 to settle a lawsuit involving a man who was punched by an officer in 2011.
City lawyers recommended officials settle a case involving Timothy Ashe who incurred more than $55,000 in "medical and dental expenses" following an encounter with police. The Board of Estimates is expected to approve the settlement Wednesday.
Shortly after midnight on Jan. 16, 2011, Officer Raphael Rassi spotted an unoccupied black vehicle parked illegally in the 400 block of E. Lombard St. with the stereo playing loudly, according to a summary provided to the board.
Ashe, the owner of the vehicle, came out of a nearby business when he saw the officer, and the two got into an argument, the summary says. Rassi called for backup, and Officer Chris Drummond arrived. Drummond allegedly punched Ashe twice in the face after Ashe lunged at him with a balled-up fist after refusing to sit on the curb.
Ashe was handcuffed and taken to the hospital and then to central booking for processing. He sued the city for more than $1 million.
Officials were encouraged to settle the suit due to "conflicting factual issues, questions regarding probable cause" and the injuries Ashe incurred.
Efforts to reach Rassi, Drummond or their lawyers were unsuccessful late Monday. A lawyer for Ashe declined to comment.
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