The media relations director for one of the world's largest banks who is suing the Los Angeles Police Department for allegedly using excessive force during a May 2011 arrest in Highland Park reportedly told officers that he had used marijuana and bath salts during the night of the incident.
According to a police report released to CBS Los Angeles, Brian Mulligan, Deutsche Bank's Managing Director and Vice Chairman of Media and Telecommunications, admitted to officers that he had injested "white lightning."
Officers noticed the 52-year-old man was sweating profusely and walking with an unsteady gait. Mulligan told officers he was being chased and didn’t know why.
Yet, officers wrote that the La Canada resident was responsive to questions, appeared calm, lucid and cooperative.
According to the report, Mulligan spontaneously stated that he had ingested marijuana and that he had not slept in four days.
Mulligan also stated that he ingested “white lightning,” which police say is a commercial name for bath salts which possess intoxicating effects similar to methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to TMZ.com, Mulligan, a La Cañada resident, alleges that he was arrested by officers without cause and held at the Highland Hotel for four hours without being given any information about why he was being detained. Mulligan also alleges that he was brutally beaten by officers when he attempted to leave the hotel.
He has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the department claiming officers used excessive force.
LAPD has provided a different account of the evening's events. Lt. Andrew Neiman told Patch that officers first encountered Mulligan at around 10:40 p.m. at the Jack in the Box on 4470 Eagle Rock Blvd., where they allege he was attempting to break into moving cars.
Neiman said that though Mulligan appeared to be disoriented he was able to pass a field sobriety test. Officers took Mulligan to the Highland Hotel to rest and did not hold him there against his will, Neiman said.
Police then encountered Mulligan again at about 1 a.m. while responding to a traffic collision near Lincoln and Eagle Rock Boulevards.
"Officers saw Mulligan running through traffic and again attempting to open car doors," Neiman said.
When officers approached Mulligan, Neiman said Mulligan "took a fighting stance and charged officers. In controlling him, categorical use of force was employed."
Neiman said the Force Investigation Division is conducting an ongoing inquiry related to the arrest. He said it would likely take up to one year to complete.
