Man says Independence officers punched, tased him in unprovoked attack: Lawsuit
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- Rodney Jiles sued over an alleged June 1, 2024 assault and tasing.
- The suit alleges Thomas slapped and tased Jiles; Lawton used a knee; both kicked.
- The petition says Jiles faced resisting and assault charges that were later dropped.
A Kansas City man filed a lawsuit against two Independence police officers, alleging they used excessive force and assaulted him during a 2024 incident at a local entertainment center.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court, alleges the plaintiff Rodney Jiles was subjected to unprovoked assault and battery by the officers. Jiles claims he was maliciously charged with resisting arrest and assault after the incident and that those charges were later dropped.
According to the petition, the lawsuit stems from a June 1, 2024 incident at Main Event, an entertainment center with bowling, laser tag, an arcade and restaurant. It names officers Stephen Lawton and Jaden Thomas as individual defendants, but does not name the Independence Police Department.
A spokesperson for the Independence Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lawton and Thomas could not be reached for comment.
Jiles says in the suit that he and his cousin, E.M., were bowling and playing games for about two hours without incident. When they went outside for fresh air, Thomas and Lawton told them they were not allowed back in the building.
The lawsuit says Jiles responded by telling the officers to “stop harassing us.”
Thomas then allegedly slapped Jiles in the face, causing him to fall backward, then struck him again in the jaw, according to the suit.
The suit alleges Thomas tased Jiles in the back, and later tased him again while he was in restraints. Officer Lawton allegedly used his knee to strike Jiles in the ribs while he was down, the suit says.
Both officers allegedly kicked Jiles while he was on the ground, and did not offer him medical assistance after the altercation.
Suit claims discrepancies in police report
Police reports describing the altercation between Jiles and the officers allegedly contradicted video surveillance from the scene.
According to the petition, officers claimed Jiles tried to push past police and that a fight ensued. Instead, video from the scene allegedly shows Jiles showed no aggression and was instead “violently punched and knocked to the ground,” the suit says.
Officers allegedly also suggested in their reports that they feared Jiles and his cousin may have been armed. However, no weapons were found on them during or after the altercation, the suit says.
The lawsuit further claims the officers later bragged and joked about the altercation, seeing Jiles bleed, and saying that “(Jiles) is going to feel those bruises in the morning.”
Jiles said he suffered bodily injuries, emotional distress, humiliation and embarrassment. The suit is seeking compensatory damages, including monetary losses, emotional pain and suffering and other relief.
He also demands a jury trial on the issues brought in the suit.
The Star’s Caroline Zimmerman contributed reporting.
