Pastor Files Civil Suit Against Border Patrol

 YUMA, Ariz. - Pastor Steven Anderson was beaten and Tased at a Border Patrol checkpoint last year, and has since been cleared of all charges by a jury.

But now he's filing suit against the officers who Tased him.

The lawsuit was filed a few days before the jury cleared Pastor Anderson of any wrongdoing. Anderson says the jury's decision will only help his civil lawsuit.

"The jury pretty much agreed that these guys are totally out of control," says Anderson. "I even talked to one of the jurors on the way out and he thanked me for standing up for our rights as Americans."

The 2-day trial took place in Yuma last week. He was acquitted of obstructing a highway and failure to obey officers' instructions. Anderson refused to answer a Border Patrol agent's questions about his citizenship.

Anderson's legal battle will now go on. He's suing the Border Patrol and the Department of Public Safety, claiming officers were negligent and falsely arrested him.

He's hoping a jury will award him damages to stop the agents from doing this to anyone else.

"I was beaten and bloodied and had to get 11 stitches in my head. I was Tasered for 18 seconds and obviously there should be some repercussions," he says.

Pastor Anderson got national attention last year when he told his parishioners he prayed for President Obama's death.