$1M Lawsuit Filed Against City, Police for Chokehold

Video shows an officer putting his hands around Maylene Maldonado's throat and then dragging her to the ground

A woman is suing the city of Chicopee, Massachusetts, for $1 million over a 2013 assault by an officer that was caught on surveillance camera inside the station.

The video shot inside the Chicopee Police Department on Feb. 13, 2013 shows an officer putting his hands around Maylene Maldonado's throat and then dragging her to the ground.

Maldonado says in her lawsuit, which also names eight former and current police officers, that police put her in an unnecessary chokehold.

Police deny that and say she was "spewing blood and saliva" at the officer and they were just trying to keep her from harming herself or anyone else.

The officer seen with his hand around Maldonado's throat was charged with assault and has since retired.

Maldonado allegedly assaulted one of the officers before arriving at the station that day. She has been charged with assault and battery of a police officer.

The incident remains under investigation.

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