Assault, false imprisonment alleged by motorcyclist against St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, deputy

NEW ORLEANS – A motorcyclist is suing the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff and one of his deputies for allegedly mistaking him for another motorcyclist they were chasing and injuring him while taking him into custody.

Robert Guy filed suit against James A. Pohlman, Sheriff for the Parish of St. Bernard; Sgt. C. Beebe and their insurers in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on Sept. 15.

Guy claims that on Oct. 2, 2013 he was riding his motorcycle on St. Claude Avenue in Orleans Parish and had just crossed over from St. Bernard Parish when he saw another motorcyclist speed past him and later St. Bernard police cruisers pulled him over. The plaintiff alleges that Beebe, a St. Bernard Sheriff deputy, pulled him over and said “you didn’t think we would catch you” before throwing him face first into the ground. Guy contends that as he was lying on the ground another deputy told Beebe that he had the wrong motorcyclist and the deputies left him sprawled on the pavement.

Guy asserts he suffered a vicious assault, battery and false imprisonment at the hands of a deputy employed by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and has since been unable to put the events out of his mind.

The defendants are accused of wrongfully stopping and detaining a citizen without reasonable cause, failing to initiate a proper investigation, viciously striking and threatening the plaintiff and failing to be cautious.

Damages up to $1 million are sought for pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses, false imprisonment, embarrassment, humiliation and injury to reputation.

Guy is represented by Steven M. Koenig of New Orleans-based Valteau, Harris, Koenig & Mayer.

The case has been assigned to Division J Judge Paula A. Brown.

Case no. 2014-09056.