Lawsuit claims Louisville mayor ordered police 'cleanup' leading to violent arrest

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville man has filed a new lawsuit claiming Mayor Craig Greenberg ordered the Louisville Metro Police Department to "clean up" a specific area of town, leading to his arrest.

Thomas Sanders filed the lawsuit against LMPD and the mayor's office for what he said was an unlawful arrest and excessive force as part of that "cleanup."

The incident in question happened in June 2024 in the city's Park Hill neighborhood. The suit claims Greenberg ordered then-LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel to "clean up" the area of Standard Avenue and Dixie Highway.

The suit also alleges officers were ordered to remove anyone for trespassing so that Greenberg could speak at an event.

Sanders began questioning what police were doing. Body camera footage of the incident captured an officer asking Sanders if he was going to leave the area or be cited.

Officer: "Are you going to leave, or are you going to be cited?"

Sanders: "Man, give me a citation man."

Officer: "Give me your ID."

Sanders: "I ain't giving you nothing."

Officer: "Come here boss."

Sanders: "Thomas Sanders, that's my name."

Officer: "Alright come here, let's walk."

Sanders: "I ain't going nowhere, I just talked to him."

Officer: "You're being detained."

Sanders: "I ain't being detained, for what? Don't touch me, no, no don't touch me..."

Officer: "You're being detained, you're getting a citation ..." A scuffle then ensues.

Officer: "... Hanging out, arguing, you had a choice."

Sanders: "It's alright."

Sanders said his shoulder was injured, when he was taken to the ground. He was arrested and charged with loitering, resisting arrest, menacing and criminal mischief.

A statement from Greenberg's spokesman Kevin Trager said, "The allegations  against Mayor Greenberg are completely false." 

In the body camera video, Sanders tells police playing dominoes on the sidewalk wasn't criminal because he wasn't gambling.

He said Wednesday that despite everything, he would still do everything the same because he was standing up for his community.

"Things need to be changed, and it's not fair for us to have to run because they (police) come around," he said.

"The community should be screaming for answers," Sanders' attorney, Shaun Wimberly Sr., said. "And that is appearing to only occur through lawsuits."

Sanders' son is a former LMPD officer who now works in Florida. He said he respects police, but believes changes still need to be made within Louisville's police department. 

He's expected to be back in court in July on the charges against him.

LMPD declined to comment on the pending litigation, and said the department "will remain respectful of the judicial process."

In a statement Wednesday, the mayor's office said "We are reviewing all allegations in this lawsuit and will have more to say about this in the near future."

This story may be updated.

Top Stories:

Norton Children's Hospital unveils plans for new pediatric medical campus in east Louisville

Louisville police warn of fake online fundraisers after detective's death

Incoming JCPS superintendent addresses busing, test scores, salary criticism

JCPS weighing 2 options for 2026-27 school start times

Former LMPD officer convicted for lying about cases arrested for soliciting prostitution

Louisville bar shut down for underage drinking, arrest of 'severely impaired' driver

Louisville protesters rally against ICE enforcement, National Guard deployment to Los Angeles