$1.3 Million Sought Over Altercation : Litigation: Man files claims against L.A. and Montebello, saying three off-duty LAPD officers attacked him.

A California Department of Corrections officer filed claims Wednesday seeking $1.3 million in damages from the cities of Los Angeles and Montebello, alleging that his civil rights were violated when three off-duty LAPD officers beat him outside a Montebello restaurant last month.

In his claims, Ruben Reyes, 27, said Los Angeles police officers beat him, pointed guns at his head and threatened to kill him although he had identified himself as a peace officer.

At a news conference outside LAPD headquarters on Wednesday, Reyes said his assailants, who did not identify themselves as police officers, accused him of scraping a car belonging to the girlfriend of one of the officers.

“These were vigilante types of police officers who believe they are above the law,” Reyes said, reading from a handwritten statement. “After experiencing such a terrifying incident, I feel an obligation to the citizens to have police officers who engage in this type of behavior disciplined or removed.”

Filing a claim is a necessary preliminary to filing suit against a city. If the claims are denied, Reyes can then sue each city.

One claims seeks $800,000 in damages from Los Angeles, alleging that LAPD Officers Steve Gadja, Adrian Armas and Cesar Leal illegally detained, assaulted and threatened to kill Reyes during an altercation outside the Quiet Cannon restaurant Aug. 21.

LAPD Cmdr. Robert Gil declined to comment on the claims, saying the department does not comment on pending litigation.

Reyes is also seeking $500,000 in damages in a claim against Montebello. He maintains that the Montebello officers who broke up the incident engaged in a cover-up. They filed a false police report and attempted to suppress evidence that the Los Angeles officers were intoxicated, Reyes said.

When he tried to file charges, Reyes said, a Montebello police officer told him, “Forget about it. We’re all brothers.”

Montebello Police Chief Steve Simonian denied Reyes’ allegation and said he believes his officers acted correctly.

“Based on the conflicting stories of what happened that night, it was difficult to determine what actually happened,” Simonian said Wednesday. “It would have been a lot easier if everyone had identified himself.”

According to the police report of the incident, the three LAPD officers said they had detained Reyes after he damaged the car. They denied using excessive force.

Reyes said he suffered severe headaches, stomach pains and a thumb injury that left him unable to work for five days.

According to the claims, the incident started when the off-duty officers sandwiched Reyes’ car between theirs. Reyes said that when he identified himself as a peace officer, the LAPD officers took his gun and kicked and punched him.