Man Sues Former Officer Two Years After His Arrest

A Post Falls man is suing a former police officer, after being hit with a baton during an arrest two years ago.

Patrick Clancy, 40, filed suit Thursday against former officer Daniel G. Finn, who left the Post Falls Police Department shortly after the incident.

Kootenai County court records show that Clancy has a history of being arrested for assaulting and resisting police officers.

On the other hand, Finn’s performance had been criticized previously.

In his suit, Clancy claims Finn used “unnecessary force by hitting him repeatedly” on July 27, 1993.

Post Falls Police investigated the incident and found no wrongdoing, said Lt. Rod Plan.

Finn stopped Clancy for speeding on Seltice Way in Post Falls. The officer smelled alcohol on Clancy’s breath.

When Finn tried to handcuff Clancy, the man swung at the officer, according to the police report.

Finn reported he hit Clancy in the legs at least three times.

Prosecutors charged Clancy with resisting police officers and drunken driving. The case was dismissed because the officer was not available to testify.

Finn resigned from the department almost two years ago, Lt. Plank said. He would not say why.

“There were other problems, and there were other instances where he was found to have done things that we didn’t think were proper,” Plank said. He would not give specifics.

Clancy’s history includes being charged with drunken driving, disturbing the peace, assault on a police officer, resisting and obstructing and officer and driving without a license, according to court records.

Some of the cases have been dropped; he is due to be sentenced on others in August.

Efforts to reach Finn and Clancy for comment were unsuccessful.

, DataTimes