This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Posted: 1:22 PM- A Utah man who claims that an off-duty Salt Lake City police officer assaulted him after a pick-up game of basketball became heated has filed suit alleging that his constitutional rights were violated.
Agim Fetahu says Officer Marcus Barrett punched him in the chest and stomach, blocked his car with a police cruiser in a gym parking lot and tried to pull him out of his vehicle through the window.
Fetahu says two men with Barrett joined in threatening him, including making slurs about his "Russian" ethnic origin.
The 21-year-old Fetahu is actually an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo and a naturalized U.S. citizen. His suit alleges that he was wrongfully detained and discriminated against in the Aug. 29 confrontation at Gold's Gym near 3500 West and 3500 South in West Valley City.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court, seeks at least $4 million in damages from Barrett and the Salt Lake City Police Department. Also named as a defendant is Gold's Gym, which Fetahu alleges knew of previous violent behavior on the premises but failed to protect him.
Salt Lake City Attorney Ed Rutan declined comment.
Gym officials could not be reached for immediate comment.
Barrett, 26, was charged with misdemeanor counts of assault, unlawful detention and disorderly conduct and has pleaded not guilty.
He was placed on administrative leave with pay on Aug. 30 pending the outcome of the case.
pmanson@sltrib.com" Target="_BLANK">pmanson@sltrib.com