VIRGINIA BEACH
A woman has filed a lawsuit against two Beach police officers who she said ripped chunks of hair from her scalp and touched her inappropriately almost two years ago.
In her complaint, Amanda Smith claims that the officers violated her constitutional rights.
City attorneys have denied the allegations in court papers.
The lawsuit, which seeks at least $260,000 in damages, was transferred this month to U.S. District Court in Norfolk from Virginia Beach Circuit Court. It is one of three cases pending in federal court, which allege that police officers violated an individual’s constitutional rights and used excessive force.
The incident occurred on Sept. 21, 2006, when Smith answered a knock at the door of her friend’s house in the city’s Kempsville section. An officer identified as R.R. Ray in the complaint, and another individual were looking for a runaway teenage boy.
According to the complaint, Ray asked Smith if a person was home. When Smith tried to return inside the house to get that person, Ray slammed the screen door behind Smith.
Ray allegedly grabbed Smith and threw her to the ground. He kneeled on her back and twisted her arm. Ray punched Smith three times, and yelled for her to place her arms out to her side, the complaint stated.
After Smith was handcuffed, Ray pulled Smith up from the ground by her ponytail, ripping loose hair from her head, according to the complaint. By then, an unidentified police officer arrived. That officer allegedly fondled Smith’s breasts and genitals.
Smith was charged with obstruction of justice and carrying a concealed weapon for having a pocketknife. She claimed she never was read her rights.
Last year, Smith was acquitted of both misdemeanors.
In asking that the lawsuit be dismissed, Ray admitted that he struck Smith only to get her to comply with his repeated commands for her to place her arms out and never advised her of her rights. He denied pulling Smith from the ground by her hair or that she was fondled.
Duane Bourne, (757) 222-5150, duane.bourne@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
