St. Paul to pay $270,000 in police brutality case

The city of St. Paul is expected to pay a woman $270,000 after she alleged a police officer used excessive force when breaking up a fight at her home.

Police responded to a domestic dispute two years ago involving Cosetta Morris and her partner in an apartment they shared. According to the lawsuit, one of the police officers, Adam Bailey, flung Morris across the living room. Morris' arm broke through a glass-paned door, requiring surgery.

The suit alleges Bailey tried to cover up the incident by falsely claiming Morris was choking her partner. A second officer allegedly tried to convince Morris' partner that Morris went through the glass because she had tripped during the struggle. Morris was never charged in the dispute.

As part of the settlement, the city denied Morris' allegations, and did not admit any wrongdoing. The St. Paul City Council will vote to approve the settlement at a council meeting on Wednesday.

The deal would be one of the city's largest settlements for alleged police misconduct. In 2005, the city gave $400,000 to the family of Charles Craighead, who was mistakenly shot and killed by police as he struggled with a carjacker.