A Maplewood man is suing the St. Paul Police Department for $400,000, alleging officers used excessive force during a recent incident in Lowertown.

Anthony Clark Jr., 25, has more than 20 staples in his head, a bruised chest and peeling skin on his face after his arrest early Sept. 26 in an alley near the Station 4 bar.

He says it's because officers used unreasonable force. Police say he attacked them and the force was justified.

Both sides agree officers sprayed a chemical irritant at Clark and hit him with flashlights after a chain of events that started in the bar. But their versions of those events differ widely.

The suit, which Clark's lawyer said was filed Monday in federal court, is against 15 unnamed officers.

Police spokesman Andy Skoogman had not seen the suit and had no comment on it.

The incident is under "administrative review" -- officials are going over reports to make sure policies and procedures were followed, Skoogman said.

According to police and the criminal complaint, which includes two charges against Clark:

Police were checking in at the bar as part of regular patrol duties and were asked by bar employees to help quell a squabble involving Clark's fiancée, another woman and a bartender.

Clark saw an officer escorting his fiancée out of the bar and pushed the officer. The officer warned Clark not to touch him or his fiancée, and then Clark pushed him again and cursed at him. The officer tried to grab Clark, but Clark held his fist as if he were going to punch.

A second officer tackled Clark, who kicked and flailed and got up to run. An officer fired a Taser dart at him, but missed.