The city of Springfield has reached a $575,000 settlement with a man who was severely beaten by a police officer during a traffic stop.

City attorney John Liebel made the settlement public yesterday following a two-day mediation in U.S. District Court.

Melvin Jones III sued the city and police for civil rights violations, negligence and assault in connection with the beating in November 2009 by Officer Jeffrey Asher. Asher was subsequently fired and sent to jail for 18 months on an assault and battery conviction.

Jones was beaten unconscious with a flashlight, blinded in one eye and had broken bones and teeth. The beating was caught on video.

Asher has said he thought Jones was reaching for another officer's gun.

Source: The Associated Press