The attorney representing Dominique White's family in a federal lawsuit alleges that an incident last week involving Topeka police is "yet another example of excessive force." However, police officials contend the officers acted reasonably.

Civil rights attorney Andrew M. Stroth said his firm, Action Injury Law Group of Chicago, has been hired to conduct an investigation.

On Wednesday, Topeka police responded to an apartment complex in the 1300 block of S.W. Harrison after receiving a report of a man armed with a rifle who was in a violent dispute with a woman, TPD said in a statement posted on the department's Facebook page later that day.

The occupant, David Reynolds, refused to answer questions and slammed the door shut, TPD said.

Police entered the residence and detained Reynolds. No one was found.

Topeka police said they entered the residence fearing for the woman's safety and that in emergency situations, officers aren't required to have a search warrant if there is reasonable belief that a person may be in immediate danger.

"We believe our officers responded reasonably to this call for service given the facts and the totality of the circumstances," Topeka police Lt. Andrew Beightel said in a statement Monday.

Stroth, who filed a federal lawsuit in June in the shooting death of White by two Topeka police officers, said Reynolds was in fear for his life and safety.

"Without cause or provocation, at least three Topeka police officers kicked in Mr. Reynolds's door, pointed two AR-15s and handcuffed him," Stroth said in a statement. "A warrant was not presented by the officers and Mr. Reynolds was in the sanctity of his home washing his dog at the time of the false arrest. David is currently a student at Washburn University studying history, education and political science. It's yet another example of excessive force utilized by the TPD."

Reynolds recorded part of the interaction and posted it on Facebook where it has been viewed 2.3 million times.

On Monday, the Topeka Police Department denied an open records request for body camera recordings from The Topeka Capital-Journal. TPD legal advisor Luther Ganieany wrote in his response that the videos were subject to closure because they aren't in the public's interest and contain personal information, namely the interior of a person's residence. He also cited a Kansas statute that says a public agency isn't required to provide audio or visual recordings that haven't been heard or shown at a public meeting of the governing body.