#Black man who police led by rope files $1 million lawsuit against Texas city

A black man who was led by a rope through a Texas street by two white cops on horseback last year has filed a $1 million lawsuit against the city of Galveston and its police department.

Donald Neely, 44, is seeking damages for emotional distress, saying he suffered “embarrassment, humiliation and fear” during the Aug. 3, 2019 encounter, local outlet KPRC reported.

“Neely felt as though he was put on display as slaves once were,” the lawsuit states. “He suffered from fear because one of the horses was acting dangerously, putting Neely in fear of being drug down the street by a run-away horse.”

The lawsuit, filed last week in Galveston County district court, alleges the cops’ “extreme and outrageous” conduct also physically injured Neely.

The officers arrested Neely — who was homeless at the time and sleeping on a sidewalk — on criminal trespassing charges, which were later dismissed, according to the suit.

Body camera footage showed one of the cops saying that leading Neely, handcuffed and bound with rope, through city streets to a mounted patrol staging area, would “look really bad.”

Images and footage of the arrest went viral, sparking outrage from the community and making headlines across the country.

The Texas Rangers conducted an investigation and ultimately determined that the officers’ conduct didn’t warrant a criminal probe.

Neely is demanding a trial by jury.

City officials declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

A status conference in the case is set for Jan. 7, 2021.