ST. LOUIS — A mother with her minor child are suing the Missouri police department, citing alleged unlawful seizure and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Roslyn Brown, and R.Z., a minor, through her mother and next friend, Roslyn Brown, filed a complaint on May 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division against the city of Pine Lawn, former Pine Lawn Lt. Steven Blakeney, Pine Lawn Police officers, et al, alleging that the defendants violated the fourth and fourteenth amendments by conducting an unlawful search and seizure to plaintiff.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on May 19, 2014, Brown was arrested in front of her minor daughter at their residence when she failed to provide information about her husband. The plaintiff claims she was subjected to physical abuse, invasion of privacy, arrested using excessive force, imprisoned without any warrant of arrest and her minor daughter R.Z. was detained.
The plaintiffs hold the defendants responsible because they allegedly arrested individuals without reasonable cause or provocation, ignored the policies and procedures of the police agency by permitting the unlawful arrests and failed to train, supervise and discipline police officers concerning proper police practices.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment for compensatory damages, costs of the action, attorney's fees, and for such other and further relief as the Court deems fair and appropriate. They are represented by Thomas B. Harvey, Michael John Voss, Blake A. Strode and Nathaniel R. Carroll of ArchCity Defenders Inc. in St. Louis.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division Case number 4:17-cv-01542-ERW