A Houston machinist claims a city police officer fractured his eye socket by hitting him five times with a heavy metal flashlight after he was handcuffed in the driveway of his parent's home.

Steven D. Rossi, 37, admits he panicked and ran when police officers attempted to pull him over as he drove home after having five drinks at a local restaurant about 2 a.m. April 1.

The Houston Police Department internal affairs division is investigating, and Rossi has filed a civil rights complaint with the FBI.

Rossi said he was holding a laptop in his hands after he got out of his car when the arresting officer hit him with a flashlight, knocking him to the ground.

He says the officer hit him five more times after he was handcuffed, as two other officers held him.

"I thought to myself, 'Oh crap, he's going to kill me,' “ Rossi said Wednesday.

Suspect wouldn't stop

Rossi said he received a $33,832 hospital bill for treatment he received during a three-day stay after his arrest.

The HPD's report of Rossi's arrest and the officer's sworn statement to prosecutors say Rossi was injured when he crashed his car into a driveway gate.

The officer also said that a swearing Rossi got out of his car and attacked him with doubled fists, hitting him twice.

"Officer (name blackened) ducked the punch, and attempted to deliver an HPD approved strike to the approved target area. The defendant stepped forward at that moment moving his head into the strike path of the officer," according HPD's arrest report.

"The suspect then fell, striking his head on the driveway."

The arresting officer said he began to chase Rossi's vehicle after seeing it going the wrong way down a one-way street, and during the chase Rossi sped, swerved and ran several red lights.

Pleaded no contest

Rossi was rearrested after leaving the hospital and pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor evading arrest charge and was sentenced to 90 days in jail.

Rossi acknowledged that he previously had been arrested several times for drunken driving, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana, but he insisted he never resisted arrest or fought with officers.

Both Rossi and his mother also acknowleded he previously was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

FBI Special Agent Shauna Dunlop confirmed the agency is aware of the allegation, and has contacted HPD and Rossi.

"Use of force does not necessarily indicate excessive force,“ she said.

"However, we take all allegations of excessive force very seriously and analyze those allegations to determine if any violations of federal criminal law may have occurred."

james.pinkerton@chron.com