A Calgary man has launched a $500,000 lawsuit against the former Chief of Police and five additional Calgary Police Service members in connection to a 2013 incident that he says left him unconscious and suffering from injuries to his shoulder, back, ear and leg.

On September 19, 2013, 70-year-old David Loeppky was approached by an unknown woman outside of his home in the northeast community of Monterey Park.

“I was working in my garage in the back lane,” recalls Loeppky. “A vehicle pulled up, a 2008 Jeep with B.C. plates on it. A lady got out and she presented me with a bunch of jewelry saying it’s worth $700,000, and they’re asking $300 for it.”

Loeppky says he had heard news stories on the radio of thieves using jewelry to scam seniors and was eager to see this woman arrested. The 70-year-old told the woman he would need to go inside his home to get the cash. Once inside, Loeppky called 911 from his cell phone.

According to Loeppky, the emergency call was a frustrating ordeal and the time-sensitive issue was delayed by confirmations of the city and province he was calling from. Loeppky asked the call taker if he should attempt to barter with the jewelry seller in order to buy time until police arrived but his offer was refused.

Loeppky says a second suggestion of his may have raised red flags for the call taker.

“I said 'May I take a shotgun to the back lane and detain the person until the police arrive?',” asked Loeppky. “She said don’t do anything to hurt yourself.”

“I said ‘Fine, thank you,’ and I hung up the phone.”

Loeppky returned to the alleyway and told the woman he did not have the finances to purchase the jewelry. The woman left but Loeppky memorized the licence plate of the suspect vehicle.

The senior says he drove from his home to McKnight Village to do some banking when he received a follow-up call on his cell phone from police.

“They asked me where I was, I was at a red light at the intersection of 68 Street and McKnight, and I said 'I’m not driving while I’m talking so I’ll talk to you after, I’m going to the bank',” said Loeppky. “He asked me where the bank was. I gave him the address of the bank, and he told me to stay there until police arrived because they wanted to talk to me.”

Loeppky says he finished his banking and waited for several minutes. When police failed to arrive, he drove towards the parking lot of a northeast church where his fifth wheel trailer was parked.

On the way to the lot, Loeppky received another call from a CPS member asking where he was. He provided directions to the church on 32 Avenue and Catalina Boulevard Northeast and agreed to meet police there.

“I went into the church yard, I made a U-turn to back into the trailer, and there were all these police cars there,” said Loeppky. “They were conducting me to get out of the truck.”

“I asked why and they said just get out of your truck.”

Loeppky says that’s when ‘all hell broke loose’.

“They grabbed my hands. Two of them were trying to pull me out of the seatbelt through the window. It wasn’t working. Then this dog handler, the dog tried to jump through the window but didn’t make it, and he grabbed the dog and threw it at my face.”

“I was lucky enough to get my shoulder up and he bit me on the shoulder.”

Loeppky says two officers entered his truck through the passenger door and they began to attack him. The senior says he lost consciousness. When he regained his bearings, after an unknown amount of time, Loeppky found himself on the ground of the parking lot in handcuffs.

The senior says he was escorted to an ambulance and transported to the Rocky View Hospital where he received 13 stitches.

Loeppky says he was returned to his home by police and not charged in connection to the incident.

“The whole thing was something I don’t want to remember,” said Loeppky. “I have nightmares of that dog attacking me. They’re almost gone now. Those dreams bother me quite a bit.”

Loeppky, now 72 years old, is suing the Calgary Police Service for $500,000 plus medical expenses. The former maintenance man and bus driver says he is unable to work because of the injuries he suffered nearly 21 months ago.

The Calgary Police Service will not comment on Loeppky’s allegations. None of Loeppky’s allegations have been proven in court

The provincial body that investigates complaints against police officers confirms it is aware of the incident and a decision on the actions of the CPS members will be made in the near future.