ST. LOUIS — A couple is suing St. Louis County and two police officers, citing alleged unreasonable search and seizure.
Jon Luer and Andrea Steinebach filed a complaint on Feb. 21 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against St. Louis County, Officer John Doe I and Officer John Doe II, alleging that they violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that due to a report of a taxi driver that an unidentified man did not pay him and ran, police officers illegally entered and searched their home without a warrant. As a result, the plaintiffs were shocked, alarmed, depressed and frightened and their son was accused and interrogated for not paying taxi fare. The plaintiffs hold the defendants responsible because the officers allegedly unreasonably entered and conducted a warrantless search of plaintiffs’ home and unreasonably seized Luer's person. St. Louis County is accused of failing to train and supervise its officers.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against defendants officers, award for compensatory, and punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and costs and such other relief as the court deems just and proper. They are represented by Anthony E. Rothert and Jessie Steffan of ACLU of Missouri Foundation in St. Louis and Gillian R. Wilcox of ACLU of Missouri Foundation in Kansas City.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Case number 4:17-cv-00767