LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Two men who East Lansing Police pepper-sprayed and arrested Aug. 24 are preparing to file a federal lawsuit accusing law enforcement of “false arrest, excessive force, abuse of authority, and violations of constitutional rights.”
Jack Rucker, of Nova Law in Lansing, will represent Lonnie Smith, 21, and Mason Woods, 22, in the federal suit. He said the lawsuit will be filed on Thursday morning in the United States Western District Court of Michigan.
Rucker tells 6 News the current draft of the lawsuit will allege 7 counts against the City of East Lansing, Police Chief Jen Brown, Officer Andrew Lyon, and Officer Jace Kingsbury. Rucker, Smith, Woods and community activists will hold a news conference in front of Dave’s Hot Chicken on Thursday morning to release the lawsuit.
Woods and Smith were pepper-sprayed and arrested Aug. 24 in front of Dave’s Hot Chicken, 194 Albert Ave. ELPD accused the duo of fighting in a news release. Both were charged with “disorderly conduct fighting” in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court on Aug. 25. Woods was additionally charged with a misdemeanor resisting, obstructing, and/or hindering an officer…