Police Allegedly Handcuffed Ala. Man So Tightly His Hand Had to Be Amputated: Lawsuit

Giovanni Loyola was allegedly punched in the face, kneed on his back, and handcuffed "extremely tightly" by a responding deputy, a lawsuit alleged

An Alabama police officer allegedly handcuffed a man’s wrist so tightly that it had to be amputated, the man claimed in a 2021 lawsuit that is now headed to trial, per reports.

According to the complaint, Giovanni Loyola was in his Pinson, Ala., home in February 2020 when deputies Christopher Godber, Ashanti McKinney and Jared White came to his door regarding complaints alleging that two men were fighting and had weapons.

The complaint disputes that there was a fight. It alleges that when Loyola answered the door, Godber dragged him down steps and slammed him against a car before throwing him to the ground.

The complaint further alleges that Godber repeatedly punched Loyola’s face, and handcuffed him “extremely tightly,” while “grinding his knee” on his back.

The complaint says Godber eventually loosened the handcuffs, and Loyola was taken to jail. AL.com reports he was charged with disorderly conduct/disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. The disposition of those charges was not immediately clear.

When Loyola was released from jail a few days later, he sought medical help because he was experiencing “tremendous pain” in his left wrist, per the complaint. Doctors referred him for emergency surgery, citing a problem with blood flow to his left hand.

During his hospital stay, Loyola had graying fingertips, swelling and excruciating pain that would wake him up at night, the complaint claims.

After he was released from the hospital, he repeatedly visited hospitals for treatment and eventually his left hand had to be amputated “due to the injuries inflicted on him by the deputies’ improper use of handcuffs,” the complaint claims.

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The complaint further accuses McKinney, one of the responding officers, of covering his body camera and not intervening.

He allegedly “covered” the camera to block it from recording impending use of force by Godber, aware that it would be unlawful, according to the complaint.

The incident caused Loyola “irreparable injury,” in addition to emotional and mental distress, as well as loss of income, the complaint claims.

Loyola is requesting punitive damages against Godber and McKinney, as well as attorney fees, litigation expenses and an order to deter Godber and McKinney from “harassment and intimidation” of the victim.

Neither the sheriff’s office nor the lawyers for the deputies immediately responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comments.

The trial is set to begin on April 15, AL.com reported.

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