A Rochester man is suing a former city police officer who assaulted him during an arrest as well as other members of the police department.
Christopher Pate has filed the lawsuit against Michael Sippel, one of the officers involved in the May 2018 arrest of Pate, along with three other officers and the City of Rochester.
Sippel was convicted of misdemeanor assault this past May. Pate was initially accused of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Those charges were later dismissed. Pate has said he was tased, handcuffed and assaulted in a case of mistaken identity. Sippel was later fired by the RPD.
The civil lawsuit filed this week on behalf of Pate says that he was a falsely arrested and imprisoned as well as being assaulted. He also says that excessive force was used and that his fourth amendment rights were violated for being arrested without probable cause.
The city of Rochester issued a statement saying that it will not comment on pending litigation in order to protect the interest of taxpayers.
Meantime, Michael Sippel is scheduled to be sentenced on the assault charge on August 16.
