MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) — Ball State University has agreed to pay a local hip-hop artist $10,000 to settle an excessive force civil lawsuit after one of its officers used a “leg sweep” to take the person to the ground.
The Star Press reports that the lawsuit stemmed from the arrest of 35-year-old Djuane McPhaul, aka Juan Da God, around 2:50 a.m. on April 20, 2013 outside of a local bar.
A judge ruled that officer Jordan Brand’s use of a leg sweep to take McPhaul down may or may not have been excessive force, leaving the university with the choice of settling or trying the lawsuit.
An agreement in U.S. District Court says the university is making the payment to prevent further costs and litigation that have already cost it nearly $92,000 in attorney fees and other legal expenses.
