Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Uncle points to a case where the officers should have to personally

pay up. For being arrogant dumbasses who happen to wear badges while abusing their authority.
"The caller indicated that Sutterfield was not being disorderly, disruptive, or committing any criminal acts," the complaint states. "The call was dispatched. The dispatcher did not indicate that Sutterfield was being disorderly, disruptive, or committing any criminal acts."

When police arrived, Sutterfield was driving out of the church parking lot, the plaintiffs said. Palick stopped her.

"Defendant Palick drew his gun and pointed it at Sutterfield," the complaint asserted. "Defendant Bethia also arrived on scene, drew his gun, and pointed it at Sutterfield."

Palick required Sutterfield to get out of the car, and proceeded to search it without her consent, the complaint continues. The officer subsequently found Sutterfield's handgun in the car, enclosed in an opaque case which was zipped closed.

"Before the search, Defendant Bethia handcuffed and physically held Sutterfield," the complaint states. "Mork physically searched Sutterfield and removed her car keys from her pocket without her consent and over her repeated objections."

So far, bad. What makes it worse:
Mork also removed a loaded magazine from Sutterfield's holster, again without her consent and over her objections, the complaint continued. Yet another officer, Tushaus, arrived on the scene and gave Palick approval to arrest Sutterfield for illegally transporting a firearm.

According to the complaint, illegally transporting a firearm is not an arrestable offense in Wisconsin.

"Defendants were made aware that it is not an arrestable offense via a memo from their Chief of Police, dated April 22, 2009," the complaint states.

Nonetheless,the officers took Sutterfield to the Brookfield Police Department, where she was questioned, booked, and released
.
So they knew damned well that their charge was bullshit, and put her through all this anyway. Agree with Uncle, I'd have added some zeroes to the settlement. And the dumbasses with badges should have to pay at least some of it out of their own pockets.

No comments: