GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An Allen Park man, represented by Geoffrey Fieger, is suing the Kent County Sheriff's Department and a specific deputy for allegedly beating the man after he was arrested for drunken driving. 

A lawsuit filed in federal court lays out the claim that Jesse Bowlson, 33 at the time, was arrested early May 30, 2010 on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated at I-96 and Alden Nash Road.

He was taken to the Kent County jail where, the lawsuit contends, he was "pepper sprayed, kicked, choked, and beaten" by jail guards. Bowlson was taken to Spectrum Health downtown and diagnosed with a "collapsed lung, four broken ribs, and multiple abrasions and contusions."

Bowlson posted bond and was released from jail June 1, 2010. He pleaded guilty in October of that year and was sentenced to 15 days of jail and two years of probation.

The suit specifically names Deputy Matthew Batchelder, and alleges the department "used unreasonable and excessive force," that deputies conspired to keep Bowlson from getting medical care, and "knowingly falsely and publicly state that the (sheriff deputies) were in a dangerous situation and/or were justified in beating Jesse Bowlson."

The department also is accused in the lawsuit of "employing a police code of silence" in its conspiracy effort.