LONG BEACH >> A federal jury ordered the city to pay a local couple $175,000, agreeing that police made an arrest without probable cause and used excessive force during an incident on July 4, 2011.

The jury said Jay Bradley Holms should be paid $150,000 in damages, finding that Officer Eric Fritz used excessive force, and that Officer Jeremy Chavez arrested him without probable cause. Julie Holms, his wife, was awarded $25,000 due to emotional distress caused by Fritz, the jury found.

The jury did not find any liability for John Gibbs, a third Long Beach officer named in the lawsuit, and did not agree that the officers acted with malice.

Long Beach deputy city attorney Howard Russell said he and his office are reviewing options to appeal the jury’s findings.

“We appreciate the jury’s service, but we are disappointed in their verdict,” Russell said. “We dispute the characterization (of Fritz’ and Chavez’ actions). We contend that the officers acted reasonably in response to Mr. Holms’ actions.”

The incident began during a 4th of July celebration. Jay Holms was playing dominoes in a neighbor’s backyard when police pulled up and arrested his son, a minor, according to the civil complaint and David Haas, the Holms’ attorney.

Julie Holms walked to the front of the home on E. 6th Street between Cherry and Rose avenues and began speaking with the officers, he said.

Russell and Haas, however, disagree about what happened next.

Russell said Holms did not speak to the officers, but rather walked up to the police car and reached inside, prompting Chavez and Fritz to try and get him away from their squad vehicle. Holms, he said, refused to comply with the officers’ commands and repeatedly tried to push them off of him.

The officers had no choice but to punch Holms and use a baton to try and subdue him, the deputy city attorney said.

Haas said Chavez suddenly began to punch Jay Holms after he came outside; Fritz then beat him with a baton, knocking him unconscious.

Holms suffered a broken arm, multiple bruises and cuts during the incident, according to the lawsuit.

In a video provided to the Press-Telegram by Haas, a number of neighbors can be seen gathered around the officers and Holms, who is lying face down on the pavement with his arms handcuffed behind his back. Many of the witnesses are screaming and upset.

Julie Holms can be heard telling Fritz and Chavez that she is a registered nurse and that her husband needed medical treatment.

Gibbs, who arrived at the scene as a backup police officer, can be heard telling the crowd, “Happy Fourth of July … Happy Fourth,” before he and Fritz pull Holms up by his broken arm.

Holms was later charged with resisting, obstructing or delaying a police officer, according to information provided by Haas. A criminal court jury found him not guilty of that charge on March 8, 2012.

No charges were filed against the son, Haas said.

Contact Greg Yee at 562-499-1476.