OFF THE WIRE
D-Tom shared the following via CopBlock.org’s submit page.
This lawsuit came to light earlier this week about an incident that
occurred in Huntsville, AL. It seems Huntsville Police Department needed
three police employees to address the infraction of not using a turn
signal. When one of the occupants asked if she could record the
encounter with her smart phone, she was told NO, a clear violation of
her first amendment right recognized by recent court decisions. She was
then hauled out and searched without probable cause. She was
aggressively patted down, exposing her backside to male employees and
passersby. This type of escalation over such a mundane violation is
becoming all too familiar in our country. Where are the good cops? Are
there any remaining? If citizens simply want a record of the event for
accountability, will they be targeted more? Why do modern police get
offended if you question them? Why aren’t we doing something about this
epidemic at all levels?
View the news report here.
UNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
A Madison County woman claims she was illegally strip-searched by Huntsville police officers.
Shanetha Sampson is suing the city of Huntsville and three unnamed Huntsville police officers. She filed the lawsuit [PDF] last Wednesday.
Sampson claims officers used excessive force to strip-search her in
open view of the public, among other things. The alleged incident
happened July 24, 2013.
Sampson said she was driving on Woodson Road near Holmes Street when an officer pulled her over for not using her turn signal.
She said two more officers showed up and began questioning the
passenger in her car. In the suit, Sampson claims she asked the officers
if she could use her cell phone to record the questioning, but the
officers said no. Her attorney, Martin Weinberg, said that the officers
violated her First Amendment freedom.
Sampson claims the officers made her get out of the car and put her hands on the hood of the car, which was extremely hot.
That's when she said a female officer exposed her back side to the
other officers and to the public. Sampson also claims the officer rubbed
her entire body, including her breasts and genital area.
In the lawsuit, she also describes the officers doing an extensive
search of her car. Sampson claims they ripped and damaged the interior.
Weinberg said the officers had no probable cause for the strip
search, or the vehicle search. The lawsuit also claims Sampson was
falsely arrested and held without cause.
WAFF did reach out to the Huntsville Police Department, but we were told the department will not comment on a pending case.
Weinberg is demanding a jury trial and is asking for damages and to be paid for cost of the suit.
Link to lawsuit filed (PDF):
