Man Shot by Cedar Falls Police, Suing City

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — A man shot by a Cedar Falls officer on Christmas Day 2013 has sued the city, alleging civil rights violations.

The lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids by a lawyer for 29-year-old Zachary Church. Police Chief Jeff Olson says he didn't agree with statements in the lawsuit but would not comment further.

Officer Bob Anderson reported that he found Church asleep in a parked but running car early in the morning on Dec. 25, 2013. Anderson says that when he told Church to sit in his patrol car, Church began punching him. Anderson says he warned Church and then shot Church after feeling a tug on his belt.

The lawsuit says the use of a firearm wasn't justified.