San Juan County’s insurance pool settles for $75k in unlawful arrest claim

PNW Local News
Dec. 30, 2010

[...]Toni Michele of Friday Harbor alleged deputies Nikki Rogers and Brad Korth illegally searched her home, used excessive force and falsely arrested her on March 21. Her lawsuit, filed July 20 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, alleged unlawful search and seizure, unlawful imprisonment, negligence and assault. She filed suit after her damage claim for $250,000 was rejected by county officials.

Michele told Rogers there had been a verbal argument but there were no injuries and no property damage. Rogers questioned Michele about her alcohol use and asked to search the home, saying she was required by law to make sure no children were present and that there were no injuries or property damage. Michele declined permission, but Rogers entered the home and, when Michele resisted, she was “tackled” to the ground by Korth and Tased.

A search of Michele’s residence “yielded nothing of evidentiary value,” Kaiman said at the time. [...]

Michele was charged with obstructing a police officer and assault in the fourth degree, but the Prosecuting Attorney’s office dropped the charges on July 7, Kaiman said. [...]

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