HOUSTON -- Five Harris County residents have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Harris County Sheriff's Office, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

The plaintiffs claimed they faced harassment and intimidation after filing complaints against the department.

"He just grabbed me by the neck right here and slammed me," Katy-area business owner Loyd Henderson said as he showed surveillance video from his store.

Henderson said he called the department last October to file a burglary report. He said that as he looked for his driver's license, a sheriff's deputy grabbed him from behind and wrestled him to the ground. Henderson said he was handcuffed but later released and not charged with a crime.

"His rights were violated and that's the problem with the Harris County Sheriff's Department," said Quannel X, leader of the New Black Panther Nation. "They honestly believe they are above the law."

Municipal court judge and law professor April Walker said she was also terrorized, threatened and arrested after she reported a disturbance in her neighborhood. She said she was arrested for impersonating a public servant and thrown in jail. Her case is headed to a grand jury.

She filed an internal affairs complaint, but said she simply wanted an apology.

Walker said, "For them to retaliate against me for filing a complaint for them to investigate this, this is just too much. I didn't want this to come this far. I wanted it to go away. I have a life to lead."

Sean Ibarra and his brother, Erik, also joined the lawsuit. They said the sheriff's office spied on them after filing a federal lawsuit against the sheriff's office. The county settled that case for $1.7 million.

"You know, if you got a sheriff badge, a deputy badge, you're OK. You can do whatever you want. And that's why we've come together to file this civil suit. Things need to change," Sean Ibarra said.

The lawsuit asks for a federal judge to step in an supervise the department. Harris County sheriff's spokesman Capt. John Martin said that is not needed.

"At this time, the sheriff's office categorically denies any and all allegations made in that lawsuit," Martin said. "Sheriff Thomas is personally named as a defendant in that lawsuit and for that reason, he has no comment on the matter at this time."

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial. The court would set any award if the five win the case against the county.