Federal lawsuits were filed Thursday against the City of East Lansing and members of the East Lansing Police Department by two local men.
Lonnie Smith, 21, and Mason Woods, 22, were taking part in Michigan State University’s “Welcome Week” weekend when they were pepper sprayed by ELPD Officer Andrew Lyon and arrested outside a downtown Dave’s Hot Chicken on Aug. 24.
Attorney Jack Rucker of Nova Law is representing both men. He said Lyon deployed his pepper spray within 5-inches of Woods’ and Smith’s faces, and that Lyon did so without warning…