Billings settles lawsuit over 2012 police tackling injury

BILLINGS, Mont. — The city of Billings has settled a lawsuit filed by a man whose rotator cuff was torn when a police officer tackled him, wrongly identifying him as a crime suspect.

The Billings Gazette reports that Robert Bassett will receive $80,000 under the agreement.

The officer who tackled Bassett while responding to a call about a loud party in July 2012 no longer works for the Billings Police Department and lost his state police officer certification in October.

According to the suit, Bassett was in his yard when former Billings Police officer Paul Lamantia tackled him, mistaking Bassett for a man he had seen running from the house next door.

Bassett says he is relieved to have the case settled and holds no grudge against the department or the former officer.