CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A man was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after he was beaten by Cleveland police officers as his wife looked on, according to a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Solomon and Carolyn Rhone were both wrongfully arrested after a June 2003 traffic stop in the Flats area, according to the suit.

The Rhones were awakened about 1 a.m. by a phone call from police telling them Carolyn's son was stopped for a traffic violation. An officer asked them to come pick up his car so it wouldn't have to be towed.

About This Series

Northeast Ohio Media Group and The Plain Dealer reviewed the details of nearly 70 lawsuits against Cleveland officers that resulted in taxpayer payouts over the past decade. The lawsuits alleged that officers used excessive force, made wrongful arrests or needlessly escalated violence during encounters with citizens. Though the city admitted no wrongdoing in settling many of the lawsuits, taken as a whole, the patterns that emerge from the cases match closely with the patterns of police behavior that were described in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. The city has declined the opportunity to discuss the individual cases in more detail. In response to questions, the city released a statement contending that it seriously considers all allegations of excessive force by officers. This, according to the city, has resulted in a steady drop in the annual number of incidents.

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While the two were on their way to the Flats with their 1-year-old daughter, they saw Officer James Foley's car partially blocking a lane they needed to access. After they turned onto that road, Foley stopped the car and asked for Solomon Rhone's driver's license and insurance information.

Solomon Rhone grew impatient as the officer sat in the cruiser for more than 15 minutes. He got out of his car and walked up to the police car with his hands up to ask Foley why he was pulled over and when he would receive a ticket.

Foley ordered Solomon Rhone to get back into his car. Solomon Rhone asked again what he had done wrong.

The officer then got out of his car and pulled his revolver on Solomon Rhone. Officer Matthew Payne tackled Solomon Rhone from behind and placed him in handcuffs.

Several other officers, including Norman Nahra, Charles Lane, Ron Ross struck the prone man in the face, shoulder, ribs and knee, according to the lawsuit. One officer unloaded a can of pepper spray into his eyes.

Solomon Rhone alleged that one officer told him he was going to be thrown into the river.

As Carolyn Rhone watched, she got out her phone to call her father for help, but an officer took the phone away, according to the lawsuit. She tried to take notes, but an officer snatched that away as well.

Carolyn Rhone was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police cruiser.

Police took her husband to the hospital, but towed Carolyn Rhone's car. She was left to walk home at 2 a.m. with her baby.

At the hospital, the officers falsely accused Solomon Rhone of instigating the attack by hitting Foley, according to the lawsuit.

Solomon Rhone was jailed for two days until he was released on bond. He was charged with felonious assault on a peace officer and failure to comply, a misdemeanor.

Police charged Carolyn Rhone with resisting the arrest and obstructing official business.

Both husband and wife were later acquitted.

Police in court documents denied most of the Rhones' claims. They said any injuries to Solomon Rhone were the result of his own negligence.

The city paid a $30,000 settlement in 2004.