A Butler man and two Butler City police officers will begin negotiations to settle a lawsuit against the officers.

John J. Jackson filed the lawsuit in September against Officers Myles Bizub and Nathan Shulik claiming that they violated his Fourth Amendment right with a warrantless search and seizure.

The officers have denied the allegations, but on Tuesday, a federal judge designated the case for alternative dispute resolution, a legal route that can be taken for parties to settle the matter out of court. Jackson and the officers were scheduled to hold a mediation session on Tuesday.

A mediation allows both sides to meet through a neutral person, called a mediator, who helps both sides discuss the case with the aim of resolving the case outside of court.

In Jackson's original lawsuit, he accused three city officers of an unprovoked attack and breaking his arm when they arrested him in May 2019. But on Feb. 2, Jackson changed the complaint to only name the two officers.

Jackson claims in the suit that the assault and battery from the officers violated his Fourth and 14th amendment rights.

Police arrested Jackson on May 2, 2019 for an issue related to Jackson's ex-girlfriend.

Police arrested Jackson without incident and told him at the station he was arrested for assaulting his former girlfriend.

Jackson pleaded his case to the officers, explaining that he had done nothing wrong, according to the suit.

The suit claims the officers responded by attacking Jackson, and one of the officers tackled him to the ground and broke Jackson's arm.

The officers later justified this move by claiming Jackson “made an aggressive move.”

Jackson was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital to be treated for a broken arm.

Police charged Jackson with simple assault and resisting arrest. But several days later, on May 6, the charges were dropped, according to the suit.

Both sides have agreed to split the costs of the mediation process, with Al Lindsay representing John Jackson and Jordan Shuber representing the police.