HOUSTON -- Three Houston police officers filed a lawsuit against the father of an NFL player and a community activist, accusing them of defamation, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

---

Read: Court Document: Gilberto Cruz Vs. Quanell Evans

Read: HPOU Letter To District Attorney About Driver Case

---

Marvin Driver, the father of Green Bay Packer Donald Driver, said the officers beat him and forced cocaine down his throat after a traffic arrest in November. He later held a news conference about the alleged incident with Quanell X, who was also named in the suit.

The officers said in the lawsuit that both men knowingly made false statements alleging the officers abused Driver.

"These individuals smeared our names, damaged our reputations and publicly humiliated ourselves and our family. We're delighted to have this opportunity to clear our names with this lawsuit," said officer Gilberto Cruz, a plaintiff. "We did not physically abuse Mr. Driver in any way. The accusations made by Mr. Driver and Quanell X were completely and utterly false."

An internal affairs investigation cleared the officers. On Jan. 9, the police union asked the district attorney to investigate Marvin Driver and others for perjury.

The officers are requesting unspecified damages in the civil suit.

Quanell X denied that he knowingly made false statements about the officers. He said that what he knows about the incident was related to him by Marvin Driver and his family.

"I have no reason to believe at this dispensation of time that Mr. Driver was not telling the truth," Quanell X said.

Quanell X's attorney called it another attempt by police to silence a long-time critic.

But a police union attorney said the suit, backed by the Houston Police Officer's Union, is meant as a message.

"If you lie and if you make false accusations against hardworking, innocent police officers that harms their lives, damages their reputations, we will come after you," said Aaron J. Suder, HPOU's staff counsel.

The police union criticized Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt, saying Hurtt's decision to relieve the officers of duty was a knee-jerk reaction done even though there was no evidence the officers did anything wrong.

Hurtt did not comment.

Marvin Driver declined to comment on the lawsuit.