JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - An Indiana congressional candidate has sued a police officer who accused him of assault during a traffic stop last month.
Russell Brooksbank, a Libertarian running for the 9th Congressional District seat, alleges in the federal suit that Kentucky State Police Trooper Dewayne Koch violated his constitutional rights during the stop, The News and Tribune (https://bit.ly/2eRTzuX ) reported.
The suit says Koch falsely alleged in court filings that Brooksbank had given an improper signal by using his middle finger, assaulted the officer and interfered with his work.
Brooksbank said previously he felt that “justice was served,” when charges were dropped.
Brooksbank seeks over $75,000 in damages, and said he was the target of false arrest, battery and malicious prosecution.
“We do not live in a police state. Mr. Koch needs to be held accountable,” said Brooksbank.
Brooksbank’s attorneys Chris Wiest, Robert Winter Jr. and Tom Bruns said in a news release that they intend to see the sergeant is “held accountable for his misconduct to the fullest extent of the law.”
Kentucky State Police spokesman Michael Webb said Tuesday he hadn’t been made aware of any suit filed against Koch.
Not all lawsuits trigger internal investigations, he said.
Webb didn’t respond immediately to the Courier-Journal’s (https://cjky.it/2eRRZsO ) request for comment when the suit was filed later.
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