LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man is suing the Louisville Metro Police Department after he said he was tackled in his own home and wrongfully arrested.

The incident in January 2024 played out on Johnnie Givens' security cameras. He called 911 because he said his daughter's boyfriend intimidated him and his wife, Robin, with a gun.

LMPD officers showed up to their home hours later, and the couple thought police were there to help.

"I felt like having a conversation would be enough, but, apparently, it was not," Givens said.

Givens is a former law enforcement officer. In the surveillance video, he answers the door carrying his gun. He said it was for protection because he didn't know who was knocking.

"Put (the gun) down," police are heard saying in the video.

A responding police officer said they had talked to Givens' daughter, who also called police, saying Givens had assaulted her.

Givens said that never happened.

In the video, he's seen putting the gun down and explaining the situation. Then, he attempts to close the door on the officers.

"OK goodbye," Givens said in the video.

But that's when police force their way inside.

"Quite frankly, it made me afraid, because, in my mind, I'm going 'I know what should be done' but this is what's happening right now," Givens said.

His wife tried to get them to stop several times.

"This doesn't even need to happen," she is heard saying.

"Let me go. I'm telling you to let me go," Givens said to police in the video.

"Johnnie, they will shoot you, please stop," Robin said to police.

"Can you imagine being in your home, the sanctity of your home and getting tackled or having officers force their way in and accosting you? It's unnerving, and I'm not easily frightened," Givens said.

At times during the incident, lullabies can be heard coming from the next room. It was for Givens' son, who suffers from seizures. He was sleeping at the time.

The lullabies were a stark contrast to what happened next.

"I was truly terrified that something really bad was going to happen," Robin said. "We had just experienced what we had experienced inside of our home. I was terrified."

Afraid their son was going to have a seizure, Robin tries to get the police officers to turn off their lights, but more officers storm inside.

In the video, chaos ensues as more than half a dozen officers crowd the entryway. One of the officers pushes Robin into their son's room.

Simultaneously in the video, another officer puts Johnnie in a headlock and four more tackle him to the ground. Givens said his shoulder was injured.

"I live it every day," Givens said. "I relive it every day. Every time I move my arm or I go reach for my grandkids or anything. To brush my teeth it comes back in my mind. It's been very tough."

Johnnie and Robin said their son did end up having a seizure from the lights. They also said he relives it every day and his condition has worsened since that night.

"It was way more than any person should ever have to deal with when you expect help, when you think that they're coming to help you resolve a situation and you end up being a target instead," Robin said.

Givens filed a lawsuit against the 15 LMPD officers who were at his home that night.

The lawsuit claims their rights were violated, the officers were negligent, used excessive force and assaulted him, and wrongfully arrested him.

"Just because they're wearing a badge doesn't mean that they have the privilege of being able to do things that they want to do," Givens said.

They are seeking a jury trial and money.

"This pending litigation is being handled by the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office therefore we're unable offer a statement" LMPD said in response to WDRB's request for comment.

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