ORLANDO - The Osceola County Sheriff's Office and one sheriff's deputy face charges in federal court for alleged unnecessary force in an April 2019 arrest.
According to documents filed on March 20, plaintiff Luis Rivera Guzman had just had a verbal argument with his partner at their home in Poinciana. Guzman's partner left the home and called 911 to report alleged domestic violence.
Shortly before midnight, Guzman was allegedly in his bedroom when he emerged to investigate why his dogs were barking outside.
Once at his sliding door, the plaintiff says he was shouted at and brutally attacked, despite being nonviolent and not disobeying an officer commands, by defendant officer Michael Cabassa, who is accused of throwing the unarmed plaintiff to the ground and subjecting him to multiple taser fires and beatings.
Guzman, a diabetic, says he suffered serious injuries as a result of the officer's assault. He lost control of his bladder during the tases, and sustained permanent heart damage, neck stents, traumatic brain injury and tachycardia, the suit says.
The defendants are charged with unreasonable seizure and excessive force, municipal liability and battery. Guzman is represented by Black Rock Trial Lawyers of Tampa.