From [HERE] The city of Tallahassee quietly settled a federal lawsuit filed by a Black Tallahassee minister who alleged he was choked and abused by police officers after they raided his house by mistake in 2010.

The city settled the case brought by Kevin Hawkins, minister at The Multitude of Christ Church on Apalachee Parkway, last month for $45,000. The settlement amount is under a $50,000 threshold that would have required approval from city commissioners.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, said Tallahassee Police Department officers armed with assault weapons and paramilitary attire pulled Hawkins out of his home on Idlewild Drive on Aug. 11, 2010, dragged him across a concrete walkway and subjected him to other physical abuse. He suffered cuts to his face, injuries to his arm, legs and back and a broken dental plate, according to court records.

TPD officers also forced Hawkins' daughter, who was 15 at the time, to get onto the bathroom floor, partially covered with only a small towel, and ordered his son, who was 9 at the time, to put his hands up and lie face-down on the floor, the complaint alleged. The cops held them at gun point. A dozen TPD officers, all members of the Tactical Apprehension and Control Team, were named as defendants.

James Cook, a Tallahassee attorney who represented Hawkins and his two children, said his client decided to settle in part because officers were expected to seek a type of appeal open to law enforcement before lawsuits are resolved. He said taking a higher settlement amount to city commissioners also could have delayed a resolution.

"Basically our client was looking at settling it now for less than he thought it was worth or waiting another year and a half to two years to go to trial," Cook said. "This is a huge problem in the field of civil rights."

A video shot by TPD shows the first portion of the arrest, including officers knocking on Hawkins' door and taking him to the ground outside his house. The video shows officers wearing miltary helmets, gloves and carrying automatic rifles.