BANGOR — A homeless veteran who alleges Augusta police used excessive force when they arrested him Aug. 4, 2012, at the Bread of Life Veterans Shelter told his story to eight jurors Tuesday on the opening day of a civil trial in U.S. District Court.

Michael J. Albert Sr., now 60 and living in Bangor, testified he did not resist when officers took him to the ground and handcuffed his hands behind his back after he allegedly refused several requests to leave. He said he suffered a torn left rotator cuff when they grabbed his outstretched left arm and “pulled it beyond the normal ability to extend it,” and he was in daily, throbbing pain until after it was repaired during surgery in July 2014.

Michael J. Albert Sr.

The trial is expected to run for several days.

In previous rulings in the case, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison, who is also presiding at the trial, found in favor of the Augusta police on several counts, but the claim of excessive force remains against Sgt. Vicente Morris and Officer Benjamin Murtiff.

Nivison had granted summary judgment for both officers on claims of false arrest and conspiracy counts.

The initial lawsuit named several other defendants, including unnamed officers as well as Augusta Police Chief Robert C. Gregoire and the City of Augusta.

They were later dismissed.

Albert, wearing a blue plaid shirt and khaki pants, spent more than three hours on the witness stand, questioned first by his attorney, Stephen Packard, and then by attorney Edward Benjamin, representing Morris and Murtiff. Morris and Murtiff, both wearing dark suits and ties, watched the testimony.

Albert said he still can’t recall which officers did what, but that one officer grabbed his right arm, another knelt on his head, and two grabbed his left arm to tuck it behind his back.

“I never knew the names, and I don’t remember the faces,” Albert testified under Benjamin’s questioning. “I just know it was four police officers.”

Albert said he would have put his hands behind his back if the officers had told him they were going to arrest him.

He said he is seeking compensation for pain and suffering he endured.

“More important I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again to another disabled person,” Albert testified. “To me that’s as important as the pain and suffering.”

In his opening statement, Packard said Albert was sitting at the picnic table planning a barbecue for his daughter and for fellow veterans at the shelter prior to the incident.

Albert testified he felt threated by a fellow veteran who was pacing as he talked on a phone and who walked toward him with clenched fists.

“I had already been assaulted once and didn’t want to get hit again,” Albert testified, so Albert warned the man off, using an expletive.

A staff member told Albert to leave, and Albert objected.

“I said I’m just sitting here minding my own business,” he testified. “I’m not leaving. Give me a reason to leave and I’ll leave.”

The shelter staff member called police, apparently saying that Albert was intoxicated.

“I don’t drink,” he told jurors.

He said he got up from the picnic table to leave and that’s when the officers grabbed him, walked him off the grass to the pavement and took him down.

He said he sought treatment at the VA Maine Healthcare Systems – Togus, but left minutes prior to scheduled surgery after he was told some equipment had failed and he felt uncomfortable with it proceeding at that point. The surgery was later performed elsewhere.

Jurors were shown a booking photo taken at the Kennebec County jail shortly after Albert’s arrest, and Albert circled an area on his right cheek in that photo that he said showed an open wound caused by his head being pushed onto the pavement.