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Council rejects claim against police officer
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A man who was arrested by a Ceres police officer last December has hired an attorney and filed a suit against the city alleging battery and an abuse of police authority.

On Monday the Ceres City Council rejected the claim for over $10,000 in damages.

Robert Smoke, an insurance adjuster with Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority, the city's self-insurance pool, reviewed the case and decided that it shows "the officers acted in an appropriate manner that would be expected of a professional police officer, said city of Ceres Human Resources Manager Betina McCoy.

Alfonso Zabala, 40, was arrested Dec. 29, 2013 at 2801 Della Drive, apartment 401. Zabala claims that as he was being arrested Officer Josh Klinge delivered injuries that included contusions to his head, body, ears, lips and suffered a black eye.