PORTLAND – The city of Portland has agreed to pay a $600,000 settlement to a man who said he was chased and beaten by police last February, authorities said Tuesday.

Vincent Dorazio, 41, of Portland filed a federal lawsuit in August for more than $1 million against the city and Portland police, saying officers chased him without provocation and then beat him badly.

Dorazio gave his deposition in the case at the end of December, and the city agreed to the settlement Monday evening.

“The city felt the right thing to do was compensate Mr. Dorazio for his pain and suffering,” said Portland Police Chief Michael Chitwood, who added it was the largest settlement paid by the city in recent memory.

“This is probably one of the worst accusations and challenges we’ll face,” he said. When the suit was filed, Chitwood backed up the officers involved, but now he says they may face criminal charges for the attack.

Dorazio never filed a complaint with police and instead went to Portland attorney Dan Lilley. Chitwood said Dorazio refused to talk to investigators for the department’s internal affairs inquiry, which will now be re-opened.

As a result of the internal affairs inquiry months ago, Officers Kevin Haley and Stephen Taylor were disciplined. Haley was suspended for a day without pay for punching Dorazio and failing to file a use of force report. Taylor was suspended for 10 days for not revealing that he hit Dorazio with his gun, instead of his nightstick as he had earlier claimed.

Chitwood said in light of the deposition, the internal affairs investigation will be reassessed again. The officers could face criminal charges and disciplinary action, Chitwood said.

“This is very serious. These allegations are very serious. It is a sad day for the department,” he said.

The incident occurred on Feb. 12. Officer Haley tried to stop Dorazio, who was known to police, as he was walking along India Street. Police say Haley thought Dorazio was wanted on a warrant.

Dorazio ran away. He said he fled because he had been beaten by Portland officers in the past, though he never filed a complaint.

Dorazio ran several blocks before he was caught, and said Officer Taylor then hit him on the head with his gun.

Dorazio said that Haley then grabbed his head and punched him in the face.

At the time, the officers said that when they caught up to Dorazio in a dark alley, he turned on them. Because they could not see his hands, they were worried about their safety and used force to subdue him, Chitwood said.

The altercation, Dorazio said, aggravated an existing condition of bleeding in his stomach and left him with headaches – conditions that leave him unable to work.

Chitwood said the severity of the beating brings up the possibility of criminal charges against the two officers.

“In our view it was a whitewash,” said Lilley, Dorazio’s lawyer. “Obviously there’s something going on over there and it isn’t healthy.”

Officers Healy and Taylor have been placed on limited duty, with Haley assigned to desk work and Taylor working on Peaks Island. Chitwood said Taylor’s position on the island will be re-evaluated in light of the settlement and new information about the case.

Chitwood said this was a low point in his 13 years as Portland police chief and he will work to “restore the public confidence in the department.”