ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County protester is suing public officials, citing alleged assault and false arrest during a peaceful protest march.
Kristine Hendrix filed a complaint May 26 in the St. Louis Circuit Court against the city of St. Louis, Stephen Ogunjobi, Louis Wilson and Daniel Zarrick alleging that the defendants violated the laws of the state of Missouri by using excessive force against civilian protesters.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on May 29, 2015, the plaintiff participated in the protest march near Busch Stadium to bring public awareness to police misconduct in the community. The plaintiff claims that while she and other protestors were preparing to go home, a group of police officers started arresting them. She allegedly was shot with a stun gun repeatedly and then fell to the ground, pinning her right arm under her chest. She was shot with the stun gun again and handcuffed, according to court records. As a result, Hendrix claims she suffered psychological and emotional harm due to the abuse.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly falsely arrested her, failed to use reasonable standard of public safety and human decency and failed to use proper force, methods of investigation and the legal basis for initiating criminal charges.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment for an amount in excess of $25,000 and for punitive damages, costs expended and for other such relief as the court deems just and proper. She is represented by Thomas B. Harvey, Michael John Voss, Blake A. Strode and Nathaniel R. Carroll of ArchCity Defenders Inc. in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1722-CC01430