MUNCIE, Ind. – A convicted drug dealer has filed a federal lawsuit against the Muncie Police Department and one of its officers, alleging he was seriously injured – while serving as informant – during a SWAT team raid.

In the lawsuit, filed Sept. 10 in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, attorneys for 35-year-old Danny Terry claim he is a “victim of both the criminal justice system and healthcare system.”

Terry had been arrested on drug-related charges in September 2017 when he agreed to act as an informant in an investigation of his uncle, Jerry Lee Parks, at that time a Delaware County sheriff’s deputy.

The lawsuit said Terry was directed by Muncie police officers to “visit (Parks’) home and, while inside, to engage the target in conversation related to drug trafficking.”

When SWAT team members raided Parks’ home, the suit said, Terry complied with an order to “lie face-down” on the floor.

However, “one of the SWAT officers. Matthew Hollans, forced Mr. Terry’s head against the floor, crushing his face into the floor,” the document said. The force applied by Hollans reportedly broke Terry’s nose and created a gash on his head.

Terry was later taken by ambulance to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for treatment, his attorneys said.

Over the next few weeks, Terry reportedly suffered headaches and vomiting, “resulting in his hospitalization in Community North Hospital" in Indianapolis.

That December, he underwent surgery “to alleviate the pressure on his brain.”

He was discharged from the hospital in January 2018, diagnosed with “multiple brain abscesses, heroin abuse, septic shock and encephalopathy.”

A few days later, Terry – who had used a shoe store in Castleton Square Mall as a front for his drug-dealing operations – was sentenced to 16 years in prison by a Marion County judge for a pair of convictions related to heroin and meth dealing.

The lawsuit said Terry is housed in an infirmary at the Pendleton Correctional Facility, and his “health has deteriorated since his incarceration.”

The suit accused Hollans of using “excessive and unreasonable force” against Terry, and says the “city of Muncie lacked adequate policies and procedures to protect informants on raids and arrests.”

It accuses the defendants – Hollans and the city – of violating Terry’s constitutional rights, along with battery, excessive force and negligence.

Terry is requesting that a federal court jury determine damages, ”including, but not limited to, compensatory damages (and) punitive damages.”

He is represented by Indianapolis attorneys Annemarie Alonso, Jonathan Little, Mark Sniderman and Jessica Wegg.

Local attorneys Matthew Kelsey and James Williams last week entered appearances representing the city and Hollans.

A similar lawsuit, which also targeted some medical defendants, was filed on behalf of Terry in April, but was dismissed in July.

Police Chief Joe Winkle said Monday he could not comment on the current litigation.

Last week, the chief acknowledged his department was under investigation by federal authorities. Winkle said he had not been told what the focus of that probe was. Others have said it involves allegations of police brutality.

Terry’s uncle, Parks, resigned from his position as a county deputy a few days after his 2017 arrest.

In June, Delaware Circuit Court 2 Judge Kimberly Dowling sentenced Parks – who had been accused of agreeing to hold 12 pounds of marijuana for Terry – to a year in the Delaware County jail.

Defense attorney Zaki Ali said his client had “made a poor decision to try to help out a knucklehead nephew, which went south.”

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.