
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 18, 1992                   TAG: 9203180269
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

BROTHERS' 1989 FALSE ARREST LAWSUIT BEGINS

A $650,000 lawsuit brought by three brothers claiming false arrest and excessive force stemming from a 1989 incident with two Virginia Beach police officers opened Tuesday in federal court.

John Farag, a Richmond restaurateur, said he was told by a shore patrolman to move his parked van from a handicapped parking space.

When he went to cross the street, he said, two city officers called by the shore patrolman approached him, started pushing and then beating him without cause.

However, assistant Virginia Beach City Attorney Steven Emmert said Farag began yelling at the shore patrolman and continued to do so when two officers arrived.

Farag was charged with disturbing the peace and resisting arrest. Two of his brothers, Sobhy Farag and Steve Farag, were charged with disturbing the peace. All the charges later were dismissed.

by CNB