CHICAGO, Illinois - September 10, 2011 - A man served eight months in jail, lost his job, and was acquitted of gun charges after Chicago police officers tasered and beat him while he was waiting at a bus stop last October in the South Side Englewood neighborhood, according to a recently filed federal lawsuit.

Ohesha Brinkley claims he was waiting at a bus stop at 65th Street and Western Avenue on Oct. 24, 2010, when Chicago Police Officers Juan Santiago and Zeyad Matlock approached and began searching two other people, according to a the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court.

Brinkley continued waiting for the bus and one of the officers told him to turn around and place his hands on the wall. Brinkley told officers he hadn’t done anything wrong and asked why they were searching him. The officers then began approaching him and Brinkley ran because he had a small amount of marijuana in his possession for personal use.

He eventually surrendered to officers on his knees with his hands up when Matlock tasered Brinkley in the back. Santiago then sprayed mace in Brinkley’s face.

Brinkley was taken to the police station and charged with unlawful use of a weapon and marijuana possession. Brinkley did not have a gun.

While awaiting trial, Brinkley served more than eight months in Cook County Jail for the gun charge. During this time, he was evicted from his apartment and lost his job as an asbestos removal technician.

Brinkley was found not guilty of all charges after a jury trial.

The lawsuit claims he suffered severe mental distress, insomnia, anxiety and depression and also claims excessive force, conspiracy, and assault and battery. A spokesman for the city’s law department has not been available for comment.