Denver Pays $795,000 To Settle Brutality Allegations

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - A man who says he was beaten by Denver police is getting $795,000 under a settlement with the city.

The city council unanimously approved the agreement Monday night. It's one of city's largest settlements in a police brutality case.

Alexander Landau says three officers beat him following a traffic stop in January 2009 and then tried to cover it up. His lawsuit alleges the officers used their flashlights and a radio as well as their fists to beat him.

Landau told CBS4 he hopes the settlement will force Denver police to be accountable for their actions.

" I don't hold a bias toward police. I think they definitely do good in the city," said Landau. "There are some bad apples out there. As long as the city takes the necessary procedures I think we won't have a problem."

Watch Landau's entire interview with CBS4's Tom Mustin below.

"The fact that Mr. Landau received some pretty excessive injuries, it seemed like this was a reasonable way to bring closure," Denver Mayor Bill Vidal said.

The officers say he reached for one of their guns during the stop.

Two of the three officers were recently fired for lying on reports involving other incidents.

Landau's attorney says the city also agreed to improve its procedures to ensure complaints of racial discrimination involving law enforcement officers are fully investigated.

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