A former Eugene police officer named in a civil lawsuit after punching a handcuffed man has denied allegations of excessive force and claimed the city has “obligations” to represent him in court.
Stephen Lahm filed his answer to a civil lawsuit Monday, Sept. 14, in U.S. District Court in Eugene, 10 days after the city filed its response and denied allegations made by the handcuffed man, Jehoshaphat Commandest.
Lahm can be seen on dash-cam video punching Commandest repeatedly in the face and then using a Taser to twice shock him. Police had detained Commandest on suspicion of trespassing…