Bryan Boyle of St. Louis poses for a picture at his attorney’s office in Clayton on Aug. 16, 2019. Boyle says an off-duty St. Louis police officer struck him on his face with his fists and handcuffs after the two argued at a gas station. Most of his wounds have healed. Photo by Christine Byers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Brandin Neil and Tenisha Neal, both of St. Louis, attend the 30th annual Guns ‘N Hoses at Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Wednesday, November 23, 2016. Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Bryan Boyle of St. Louis poses for a picture at his attorney’s office in Clayton on Aug. 16, 2019. An off-duty St. Louis Police Officer struck him on his face with his fists and handcuffs after the two argued at a gas station. Most of his wounds have healed. Photo by Christine Byers of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
ST. LOUIS — A former St. Louis police officer facing an assault charge for hitting a man in the face with handcuffs in 2019 was sued in federal court Thursday by that man.
Bryan Boyle’s lawsuit says he was behind officer Brandin Neil in line at the cash register at the Crown Food Mart gas station on Aug. 8, 2019, when he asked Neil, “What are you?” the suit says. Neil was in civilian clothing but had a Taser and handcuffs, and the suit says Boyle was inquiring about Neil’s profession.
Neil “exploded,” pushing Boyle in the chest and pointing a Taser at him before striking him in the face multiple times, using his handcuffs like brass knuckles, the suit says.
Boyle tried to explain that he didn’t mean any harm and respects police, the suit says, but Neil placed Boyle in a chokehold, causing him to fall to the ground and have trouble breathing.
Boyle was taken from the gas station, at 3868 Martin Luther King Drive in the Jeff Vander Lou neighborhood, to the emergency room when other officers arrived, the suit says. The suit seeks unspecified damages from Neil and the city.
Neil has pleaded not guilty to a felony third-degree assault charge, which is pending in St. Louis Circuit Court. He left the department after the charge was filed.
The incident was caught on tape, and Boyle has also spoken before about it.