TAMPA — When a group of Tampa police officers breached a screened-in porch to make an arrest in 2011, they touched off a legal battle that is poised to end with taxpayers footing the bill for a hefty settlement.

The city of Tampa has agreed to an $80,000 settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by a man who claimed police illegally entered his home and beat him unconscious. The City Council will consider a resolution Thursday to formally approve the deal.

The suit stemmed from the Feb. 21, 2011, arrest of Richard Montanez, then 51, who had been accused of stealing a cellphone a few days earlier from a Walmart store.

That morning, Officers Chris Celaya, Michael Baran, Jason Runkles and Keith Powell went to the apartment complex where Montanez lived at 7009 Interbay Blvd. in South Tampa.

The door to Montanez's second-floor apartment was bordered by a screened-in porch, according to the federal complaint. When the officers arrived, the door to the screened-in porch was closed. Beyond it, the main door to the apartment stood open.

Officer Baran knocked on the screen door. Hearing the knock, Montanez appeared in the open apartment doorway, with a cellphone to his ear, according to the complaint.

"Are you Richard?" Baran asked.

"Yes, I am," Montanez said.

At that, the officers quickly opened the screen door and walked into the porch area, according to the complaint. Officers Baran and Powell then pulled Montanez out of his apartment and knocked him to the ground.

All four officers piled onto Montanez, bloodying his nose and briefly knocking him unconscious as they punched and kicked him, according to the complaint. Officer Powell punched him so hard he broke a finger.

Montanez was jailed on charges of grand theft and obstructing an officer, but the charges were dropped a few months later.

Late last year, he sued the four officers in federal court, alleging they violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure. He also sought damages for emotional distress and personal injury.

The complaint noted that police did not have a warrant when they arrested Montanez. It also claimed the officers did not announce that they were police or give a reason for their wanting to go inside the apartment, a violation of police standard operating procedure.

All four officers still work for the Tampa Police Department, a police spokeswoman said.

Before the incident, Montanez's only arrest was for a 2005 hit-and-run charge in Seminole County. He could not be reached for comment Monday.

In a resolution submitted for the City Council's approval of the settlement, city attorneys denied liability, but wrote that Montanez could potentially be awarded more than $80,000 if the case went to trial. If approved, the settlement will be paid through the city's insurance fund.

The city attorney handling the case declined to discuss the settlement Monday. Montanez's attorneys did not return messages left for comment.

Times staff writer Richard Danielson contributed to this report. Contact Dan Sullivan at dsullivan@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386. Follow @TimesDan.