Lafayette responds to federal lawsuit alleging police misconduct

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The city of Lafayette responded Friday to a federal lawsuit alleging police misconduct.

In November 2011, Tyler Collins was charged with three felonies and five misdemeanors after police say he held his ex-girlfriend in his car against her will, then tried to take an officer's gun while he was being treated at the hospital.

After pleading guilty to several charges last summer, he was sentenced to just under 4.5 years in prison, with almost one year credit for good behavior.

In December, Collins, who is now 24, filed a lawsuit in federal court against Officer Bernie Myers and the city of Lafayette. Collins states that Myers hit him repeatedly in the face and pinned him to the hospital bed while he was confined to the bed with both wrists handcuffed.

He states the assault stopped only after a physician intervened.

The city answered the complaint Friday. They deny each of the six counts, stating that Myers was forced to restrain Collins because Collins once tried to grab his gun and once tried to bite him.

The answer also states Collins spit bloody saliva into the face and eye of a nurse.