Danny Terry, who has been convicted of dealing drugs, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Muncie Police Department, claiming that a police officer severely injured him while he was serving as an informant.
In September 2017, Terry was arrested on drug-related charges and then agreed to act as an informant in an investigation of his uncle, Jerry Lee Parks.
According to the lawsuit, Muncie police officers instructed Terry to “visit (Parks’) home and, while inside, to engage the target in conversation related to drug trafficking.”
When SWAT team members raided Parks’ house, Terry complied with an order to lie face down on the floor.
However, the suit claims “one of the SWAT officers. Matthew Hollans, forced Mr. Terry’s head against the floor, crushing his face into the floor.” The force allegedly broke Terry’s nose and left a gash on his head.
An ambulance took Terry to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital for treatment. He suffered headaches and vomiting over the next few weeks and had to be hospitalized in Community North Hospital.
In December 2017, Terry had surgery to alleviate pressure on his brain. When he was discharged in January 2018, he was diagnosed with “multiple brain abscesses, heroin abuse, septic shock and encephalopathy.”
A few days later, Terry was sentenced to 16 years in prison for convictions related to heroin and meth dealing.
The suit argues that Hollans used excessive and unreasonable force against Terry and the “city of Muncie lacked adequate policies and procedures to protect informants on raids and arrests.”
The lawsuit alleges that Hollans and the city violated Terry’s constitutional rights, in addition to battery, excessive force and negligence.
Terry asks for a federal court jury to determine damages ”including, but not limited to, compensatory damages (and) punitive damages.”
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