Jasper Police Department responds to lawsuit over 2023 arrest

A screenshot of an arrest from August 2023 that has led to a lawsuit against the Jasper Police Department.

JASPER, Tenn. (WDEF)- The city of Jasper has responded to a lawsuit against their police department.

On August 5, 2023, Samuel Hyrniewicz was arrested in Jasper, Tennessee.

He has since filed a lawsuit claiming excessive force was used during his arrest.

However, the Jasper Police Department in a response to that lawsuit that was filed says this was a gross exaggeration.

Hyrniewicz alleges that 11 different violations of his rights occurred during this incident in the lawsuit filed last month. 

These include allegations that his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure and excessive force were violated.

In that incident caught on video, two Jasper police officers ordered him to get out of the vehicle, to which he did not comply.

The lawsuit claims that the officers used pepper spray, a taser, and punches in order to get him out of the vehicle.

Police at the time defended their actions saying they saw a gun in the backseat of the car.

Attorney Mark Raines said at the time, “The weapon was identified by Officer Graham as he’s walking up to the vehicle. You saw that. And he shined his flashlight in the back area and observed the weapon. That’s when he began to ask the defendant to step out of the vehicle for officer safety.”

In their official response to these allegations, Jasper Police say that the plaintiff’s argument that officers are legally required to explain why they were detaining him was incorrect.

They also deny that the officers used pepper spray or a taser to escalate the situation or inflict pain, instead arguing the use of both only occurred because of the plaintiff’s resistance.

The plaintiff is seeking a million dollars in damages.

Both sides have requested a jury trial, as this will be heard at the Federal District Courthouse in Chattanooga