DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - An Iowa woman sued Des Moines police Wednesday alleging they violated her civil rights when they sprayed her with a chemical irritant during a civil rights protest last month.
The lawsuit filed by Essence Welch, 24, names the city of Des Moines, its police chief and an unnamed officer after she was hit with what she believes was pepper spray on May 30, the Des Moines Register reports.
The city had yet to review the lawsuit and would later respond to the court filings, Des Moines City Attorney Jeffrey Lester said Thursday. The police department declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit by the Des Moines woman also alleges police used excessive force by deploying the chemical during a peaceful protest when no curfew was in effect.
Welch was among hundreds of Iowans who protested after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.