ACLU sues over New Orleans beating

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday sued the city and police on behalf of a man it says was brutalized in a bar by a group of officers.

Steven Elloie’s body was bruised and scraped from being beaten, kicked, dragged by handcuffs and shocked with a stun gun, ACLU attorney Katie Schwartzmann said.

On June 23, 2006, according to the suit, six to 10 police officers forcefully searched the Sportsman’s Corner Bar, where Elloie, 27, was manager. Police told patrons they were “looking for two guys in white T-shirts,” Schwartzmann said.

When Elloie offered to help, he was thrown against a wall and severely beaten and kicked, the suit said. While he was on the floor, officers handcuffed him and shocked him twice with a stun gun, according to the suit, filed in federal court.

Elloie was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and battery on an officer, but the charges were dropped when the officers failed to show up in court three times, Schwartzmann said.

Elloie filed a complaint with police but the department’s public integrity bureau classified it as “not sustained.” The ACLU said the ruling was reached despite numerous witnesses who corroborated Elloie’s complaint.

“It’s really disappointing that there may not be a functional way to address the problems people have with the police,” Schwartzmann said.

The suit seeks unspecified damages.

Police Superintendent Warren Riley did not immediately return a call seeking comment.