Malicious prosecution, cover-up and false imprisonment -- those are just a few of the accusations laid out in a new lawsuit against Seattle's Police Chief.

Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne discovered the suit centers on the department's handling of a gang detective -- famously caught stomping on the head of a Latino suspect.  

The civil suit just appeared in the court records system on Monday evening.  See complete lawsuit.

It accuses SPD officer Shandy Cobane of deliberate and intentional abuse, harassment, excessive force and misconduct -- while at the same time accusing Chief John Diaz of "sanctioning (the) improper conduct."

The latest lawsuit against the Seattle Police Department shines a light on how high-level leaders handle cases where potential suspects accuse an officer of police brutality -- specifically officers like former gang detective Cobane.

KIRO Team 7 Investigators first introduced the public to him in 2010 when we aired videotape of his threatening to “beat the Mexican piss” out of an innocent Latino suspect. His ensuing kick to Martin Monetti’s head made national headlines. We then show you how in that same week-  another young man, accused Cobane of abusing him.

http://bcove.me/or6c46jw

David Rengo first sat down with Halsne for an interview last year.

“He came around the driver side, opened the door up, and just chocked me, until I - when I started kicking because I couldn't breathe, he let me go, then he choked me again.”

According to court records, SPD charged David Rengo with assault of Officer Cobane and tried to get King County prosecutors to send him to prison. A judge stepped in and forced the case to be dropped.

Rengo, in court documents, now claims false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and false Arrest, among other abuses. His attorney, Pete Connick says (Cobane, Chief Diaz and the City)

Intentionally conducted a sham internal investigation... of police abuse and misconduct, and controlled the flow of information provided to Prosecutors, much of which was false, unfounded, unreliable, and part of a cover-up.

We've been keeping count of the number of civil lawsuits filed against SPD for negligence or some kind of misconduct. This lawsuit brings that total to 44 active cases being defended with your tax dollars via the City Attorney's office.