MISSOULA — A judge has cleared several Lake County law enforcement officers of wrongdoing after a Polson man sued them for breaking into his apartment in June 2009 and arresting him, believing he was a domestic assault suspect.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch of Missoula granted the officers a summary judgment Sept. 28.
Court records say a woman gave officers permission to enter her apartment and confront her boyfriend, who she said had assaulted her.
However, the officers mistakenly entered the wrong apartment and arrested Patrick Haun.
Haun’s lawsuit sought $300,000 in damages. He said the officers entered his apartment as he slept, slammed him to the floor and handcuffed him. Officers said they identified themselves and Haun started yelling profanities and told them they were lucky he didn’t have a gun.