(WBIR - KNOXVILLE) The man at the center of a video-recorded confrontation with Knoxville police was arraigned Thursday in Knox County Criminal Court on charges of resisting arrest and assaulting officers.
Ernesto D. Rodriguez, 31, accuses officers of beating him during an arrest in July 2014.
Rodriguez maintains his innocence, according to defense attorney Mike Whalen.
Whalen declined to comment further Thursday.
Police initially picked up Rodriguez on July 9, 2014, after receiving a call for domestic violence.
A dashcam video of the arrest shows Rodriguez being held by the first responding officer with one hand handcuffed, but repeatedly refuses to provide his other hand. Backup officers arrive and are shown pounding on Rodriguez to force him to submit to being restrained.
The encounter fractured Rodriguez's face and required treatment at UT Medical Center.
Rodriguez, unarmed during the arrest, sued the arresting officers and the City of Knoxville in federal court for civil rights violations, claiming he was beaten so severely he required a breathing tube after suffering facial trauma and an orbital fracture.
In June, a grand jury indicted him on a number of charges. He surrendered to authorities in August.
The indictment lists three counts, including accusations of obstructing KPD officer Fred Kimber from making an arrest, causing officer Kimber to fear imminent bodily injury and causing physical contact with officer Thomas Thurman in "an extremely offensive manner."
