The Atlantic City police union is holding a fundraising event in November for officer Sterling Wheaten, who federal authorities arrested last month in relation to a K-9 attack that left a Linwood man with 200 stitches.

Inside the police department and Wonder Bar, the popular waterfront bar where the event will be held, there are flyers printed with a "Blue Lives Matter" flag advertising a "Back Our Brother Benefit" on Nov. 12.

The flyers do not mention Wheaten by name, but according to four sources within the police department, who asked to remain anonymous because department policy forbids them from speaking publicly, the event is for Wheaten. The officer has been involved in at least $4.5 million worth of excessive force lawsuit settlements, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Whetean joined the force in 2007 and has an annual salary of $95,416, according to the state pension system.

A police spokesman referred all questions to Matt Rogers, the union's president. Rogers, who was one of five officers involved in the incident, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A message left for Wonder Bar's owners was also not returned.

According to the flyer, which has Atlantic City PBA Local No. 24's emblem on it, tickets cost $40 and checks are to be made out to "811 Legal and Welfare Fund." Wheaten's department badge number is 811, according to department records.

(Submitted photo)

Last month, a federal grand jury indicted Wheaten on one count of violating an individual's civil rights and one count of falsifying a record for allegedly submitting a false police report about the arrest of 20-year-old David Castellani in June 2013 outside the Tropicana casino.

An Atlantic County grand jury had previously cleared the five officers involved in the case of any wrongdoing.

In a video of the arrest, Castellani can be seen approaching a group of officers outside the casino around 3 a.m. According to a federal lawsuit filed by Castellani, which the city eventually settled for $3 million, he was asking officers for help getting to the other side of the hotel.

Castellani can been seen continually mouthing off to officers before he is soon tackled to the ground and was beaten by four officers as they told him to "stop resisting," according to the lawsuit.

After Castellani was subdued and had one hand in handcuffs, Wheaten arrived and emerged from his vehicle with his K-9 partner, Hagan. Wheaten released the dog, and it mauled the back of Castellani's head, his neck and his chest, as officers, including Wheaten, continued to punch and kick Castellani, according to the lawsuit.

According to the indictment, Wheaten submitted "false and fraudulent police reports," including that Castellani was "fighting my K-9 partner" and that he had "violently assaulted uniformed law enforcement officer(s) with hands and fists."

The violation of civil rights count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and the false records count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.

"Sterling Wheaten is a family man who has served his community with pride and honor his entire career. We support him and are confident the facts will see him cleared of these charges," Patrick Colligan, the president of the New Jersey State Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement shortly after the indictment.

Wheaten made an initial appearance in federal court on Oct. 11. He was released on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.