KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) -- A Knoxville man is seeking hundreds of thousands of dollars in a civil lawsuit against the city after he was shot at and detained when he contacted 911.

In December 2023, officers responded to a Pemmbrooke Shire Lane home around 1:30 a.m. after 911 dispatch received a text message. According to the lawsuit filed this week, Phil Walters had contacted authorities after he received a threatening message from an unknown person.

Walters opened the garage door and exited the home when the officers arrived. Officer Arim Ismail fired one shot, which the lawsuit claims narrowly missed Walters. The lawsuit states that Walters was ultimately detained and taken to the University of Medical Center against his will, where he was kept for four days and underwent mental evaluations.

It also claims the first evaluation was based on a "fictitious story that was provided to UT Hospital that Mr. Walters fired a gun at police."

The civil suit contends that the officer used excessive and unnecessary force in violation of Walters' constitutional rights which caused him to develop severe mental health problems. Walters said that the officers never investigated his original claims and did not allow him to show his phone to provide proof of the threat and that he contacted 911.

An internal KPD investigation ultimately cleared Ismail for her role in the incident.

Walters is seeking $300,000 in compensatory damages as well as attorney fees from the city.