Lawsuit accuses Mpls. officers of excessive force during 4th Precinct protests

Two women are suing the city of Minneapolis and 10 police officers after they say the officers used excessive force during a protest last month outside the 4th Precinct.

The suit filed last week in Federal Court claims that on the night of Nov. 18, the officers hit the women with nightsticks as they tried to push the women and other protesters back from the 4th Precinct building. The demonstration was part of a series of ongoing protests following the fatal police shooting of Jamar Clark.

The complaint says Carrie Athanasselis went to the demonstration to find her adult daughter, Camille Williams. Athanasselis claims officers also smashed her cellphone when they saw she was trying to record the confrontation.

The city denies the allegations of excessive force.