'American Gladiators' Officer To Stand Trial

DENVER (AP) - A Denver police officer who appeared as a contestant on "American Gladiators" in 2008 faces a trial next week in a federal lawsuit involving allegations of excessive use of force.

A lawsuit alleges that officer Vickie Ferrari roughed up the manager of a Grease Monkey and placed handcuffs on him so tight they caused nerve damage. The manager in June 2007 had asked Ferrari to move her police cruiser that was blocking traffic.

The trial is scheduled to begin Monday in U.S. District Court.

Neither internal affairs nor the city's independent police monitor were able substantiate the manager's claims.

Another federal lawsuit alleging excessive force is pending against Denver officer Abbegayle Dorn, another contestant on the NBC reality show.

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