PITTSBURGH (AP) — A former young performing arts high school student says he did nothing wrong before three police officers arrested him more than four years ago.
Jordan Miles, who is black, alleges in a federal civil rights lawsuit that the white Pittsburgh officers wrongfully arrested him and used excessive force.
Miles claims they targeted him because they assumed because of his race and dreadlocks that he was dealing drugs.
Miles, who was 18 at the time of the January 2010 arrest, testified Thursday that he thought the officers were muggers when they rushed at him.
"I thought I was going to be taken away and murdered," said Miles.
"They jumped out and they said, 'Give us your drugs, your guns and your money' just like he was some dreadlocked toting drug dealer, and then they set upon him and beat him," said Miles' attorney Joel Sansone.
The three officers have said their actions were appropriate.
"We find it incredible to listen to his story that he thinks there are three white males driving around Homewood at 11 at night looking to rob or mug anybody," said attorney Brian Campbell.
Two years ago, a jury cleared them of malicious prosecution but couldn't decide on the excessive force and wrongful arrest allegations.
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