Video: Man wins excessive-force case against SPD

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SEATTLE – An innocent man who was hit by a police officer and thrown in jail walked away with a quarter million dollars. It's the first time in more than a decade that Seattle Police has lost a misconduct case.

"It's finally over. This happened back in August of 2006 and I've been fighting all the way," said Romelle Bradford who is the face of achievement despite staggering odds.

This week, he won the first excessive force case against Seattle Police in a decade.

"I know I didn't do anything wrong, and that pushed me to want do something about it," he said.

Two years ago, when a dance at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club got out of hand, Romelle, a club staff member, was in the parking lot when a rookie police officer confronted him.

"He hops and gets out of his car, and yells 'Stop and get on the ground!' I'm looking puzzled because I don't know why he's asking this. So I pull out my staff shirt and hold my badge up and yell 'I'm a staff member, I'm a staff member' and he hits me," he recalled.

Romelle was arrested and thrown into jail despite the fact that witnesses on scene told the officer he had the wrong man.

But it's not the first time Romelle has faced difficult odds. In 2003, he won the King County and Washington State Youth of the Year award after turning a troubled life around.

The experience gave him the courage to later wage a battle against the City of Seattle.

Now he says the victory feels good, but that night sticks with him.

"I try to stay positive about it, but I always know if a kid contacts me and says, "Hey, Mr. Romelle, I've heard you've been arrested. Is this true?' I will have to say yes."

Bradford won a $269,000 settlement plus attorney's fees.

He says he will use some of the money to buy a van for the Boys and Girls Club and help kids attend day camp during the summer.

Seattle City Attorney Tom Carr says officers have to make critical decisions under stressful conditions and call this an unfortunate case.