Wyandotte County settles suit

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) -- Wyandotte County's Unified Government will spend almost $500,000 to settle a lawsuit that alleged police misconduct.

The federal lawsuit claimed that Kansas City, Kan., officers violated the civil rights of a black family and two of their friends when they broke up a birthday party in 2005. The suit alleges that officers forced their way into the family's duplex, demanded that people leave and fought with the residents.

Members of the family say the white officers used racial slurs, punched and kicked them and hit them with flashlights.

Seven family members and two friends at the party received half of the $499,000 settlement over the weekend. Their lawyers say they will get the rest next year.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com