City settles with two in lawsuits; Men allege police mistreatment.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Scott J. Croteau

WORCESTER - The city has settled two federal civil lawsuits accusing police officers of mistreatment. One man received a payment of $100,000 and another man got $45,000.

City Solicitor David M. Moore confirmed that the city settled the complaint filed by Anthony Hayes against the city and several police officials for $100,000.

Mr. Hayes was arrested in March 2007 by vice squad officers in a raid at 5 Sycamore St. Mr. Hayes alleged that Officer Darnell McGee struck him in the face with a flashlight, breaking bones and knocking him out.

At the time of the raid, Mr. Hayes was charged with cocaine possession. The suit was filed in 2010 in U.S. District Court in Worcester. In previous filings, the city denied that Officer McGee struck Mr. Hayes with a flashlight and argued that the force used to arrest him was reasonable.

Mr. Hayes' suit alleged violation of his civil rights, negligence, conspiracy, assault and battery, supervisory liability and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In the case, Police Chief Gary J. Gemme fought giving a deposition in the law office of Mr. Hayes' lawyer, Hector Pineiro, citing safety concerns in going to the lawyer's 807 Main St. office. Police Capt. Jeremiah F. O'Rourke was also fighting going to the office for his deposition as well.

Eventually, a magistrate judge ordered that both police officials go to the law office for their depositions.

City officials also confirmed the city settled another separate federal civil suit filed by George Rosenthal, a city man who alleges officers attacked him after he was arrested for stealing copper piping from a parking garage storage area on Portland Street in March 2008.

The...