CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland police officer slammed a 52-year-old woman's head against a wall when she asked the officer why her son was ordered to the ground outside a family member's home, according to a lawsuit and video evidence.

Bernadean Houston, who once lived in Cleveland, had returned to the city with her son in August 2009 to visit a cousin, Darnell Burns, and other relatives, the complaint filed by Houston and Burns states.

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.

A short time after arriving at Burns' home in the 11200 block of Parkview Avenue, several vice officers showed up in the neighborhood and ordered a number of young men near the home to lie face down, according to the complaint.

A family member went inside the home to tell Houston what was going on.

Bernadean walked outside and saw her son, whose age was not listed in court documents, on the ground. When she questioned Officer David Gibson, he slammed her head into the home and put her in handcuffs, the complaint states.

Another officer, Michael Rasberry, entered the home several times and found nothing illegal.

Burns, 28, told Rasberry outside the home that he believed police had no authority to go inside. Rasberry shoved Burns in the chest, knocking him backward onto the driveway, according to the complaint.

Rasberry then punched Burns in the chest, took $280 from his pocket and placed him under arrest, the complaint states.

Police jailed Houston for two days and denied her "most of the medical treatment she needed and requested." The complaint does not list specific injuries or conditions.

Burns spent about a day in jail. During that time, he was denied treatment for his asthma, the complaint states.

Houston and Burns were not charged with crimes.

The city paid $50,000 to settle the case.