Man sues Warren police chief, officer

YOUNGSTOWN -- A Warren man is suing the city, Police Chief John Mandopoulos and Officer Doug Hipple, contending he was beaten while handcuffed outside the Warren police station in May. John Rogers, 23, of Woodbine Avenue is seeking nearly $2 million in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Youngstown.
The suit says Rogers was arrested May 4 on suspicion of driving a stolen all-terrain vehicle. Rogers says in the lawsuit that he had been given permission by the owner to ride the vehicle that day.
The suit says Rogers was handcuffed, placed in a police car and driven to the police station. Once there, Hipple dragged him out of the car and beat him with his fists, the suit says. The alleged assault happened behind the station.
Rogers says in the suit that he was then taken inside the station, where officers threw him against the wall and demanded that he make a statement about the all-terrain vehicle.
The lawsuit says Rogers was booked into the Trumbull County Jail and is being held there while he awaits trial on a charge of failure to obey a police officer.
Fred Harris, safety-service director, declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying he hadn't seen it. Hipple also declined to comment.