New London resident Daniel J. Golodner is on trial ... again.

The 47-year-old security contractor has a history with city police. He was acquitted by a New London jury in 2007 on charges stemming from an arrest that occurred when he called to report a dispute with neighbors. He went on to sue the police in federal court, claiming they had arrested him without probable cause and ignored numerous complaints that his neighbors were harassing and assaulting him and had damaged his property. The case is pending in federal court.

The case on trial this week in state Superior Court stems from an Aug. 22, 2008, incident. Golodner called police to his house at 95 Colman St. to complain that surveyors hired by the same neighbors were trespassing on his property. He wanted police to arrest the surveyors for trespassing, but it was he who ended up in handcuffs in the back seat of a police cruiser.

Police said Golodner attempted to run down an officer and a surveyor with his van and that he kicked another officer and resisted arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer, interfering with police and two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment. He opted to take the case to trial, and says the police attacked him that day.

Golodner called police and asked them to remove the surveyors from his property - as he said the police had done once before - but was told by Sgt. Todd Bergeson that the surveyors had a right to be there under state law. Bergeson had responded along with officers Genaro Velez and Sarah Starkey.

Prosecutor Christa L. Baker called the surveyors, Bergeson, and Starkey to testify. She rested the state's case Wednesday after Starkey told the jury that she attempted to arrest Golodner after he drove toward her and one of the surveyors in his van. She said they jumped out of the way and then she went up to the van, opened the door and asked Golodner to step out. She said Golodner kicked her in the chest and attempted to flee out the passenger side door.

The jury heard a different version of the incident Thursday when defense attorney Dado Coric called Golodner to the witness stand. Golodner testified that after he was told the surveyors could come onto his property, he decided to get ready for work. He said he was pulling his van around to load it with supplies when Starkey and Velez ran toward the van and stood in front of it.

"As soon as I stopped my van, officer Starkey ripped open the door and started punching me in my face and my head," he said. He said he tried to pull away and Starkey dug her fingernails into his back, ripping his shirt. Meanwhile, he said, Velez stood at the other door with his gun drawn.

Golodner said Bergeron pulled Starkey off him and told him he would Taser him if Golodner did not get out of the van. Golodner said he got out of the van and the officers punched and kicked him and pushed him to the ground. Golodner said he was hurt but refused medical treatment after Bergeson told him, in the police booking room, that he would be shackling Golodner and driving him to the hospital himself. He said he went to the hospital after police released him.

The attorneys will present closing arguments to the jury this morning, and the panel will begin deliberating after Judge Matthew E. Frechette instructs them on the pertinent laws.

k.florin@theday.com