LOS ANGELES – The city of Los Angeles is facing a possible lawsuit from a man whose cocaine possession case was dismissed after a video surveillance tape contradicted testimony from Los Angeles police officers who arrested him.

Guillermo Alarcon Jr. filed a claim Monday against the city, the Police Department and three officers. It stems from a tape his attorney played at trial last month that showed three officers searching for discarded cocaine for about 20 minutes, with one of the officers promising to use “creative writing” in his arrest report.

The video contradicts testimony from the officers who claimed they saw Alarcon throw the drugs away but that they retrieved the drugs quickly.

According to a court document filed with the city clerk's office, Alarcon's attorney argues the officers – Richard Amio, Evan Samuel and Manuel Ortiz – planted evidence, wrote false police reports and committed perjury.

The claim, which asks for unlimited damages, is the first step in filing a lawsuit against the city. Before a governmental entity can be sued, it must first reject a claim.

A police spokeswoman declined comment, citing pending litigation. The city attorney's office was unavailable for comment Monday night.

Police and the district attorney's office are investigating the case.