The News-Sentinel
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — An Indiana State Police trooper and Allen County Jail officers have prevailed in a federal lawsuit based on a plaintiff’s allegations about his arrest and booking at the Allen County Jail. The suspect claimed that the defendants used excessive force in his treatment.
It took the jury less than 20 minutes to deliberate Thursday before returning a verdict in favor of an Indiana State Police trooper and Allen County jail officers.
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office defends police officers sued when acting within their official duties. The office represented Indiana State Police Trooper Matthew Teusch in the civil lawsuit heard by a jury during a three-day trial in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana before Judge Theresa Springmann.
The plaintiff, Anthony C. Martin, now 33, was arrested Sept. 10, 2009, following a traffic stop by Trooper Teusch in which marijuana was found in Martin’s vehicle, according to court documents. As Martin was booked in to the Allen County jail and searched by the trooper, more marijuana was found hidden in a plastic bag in Martin’s pants. Martin later filed suit against the trooper and four Allen County jail officers, claiming an illegal search and excessive force, which the state denied.
Martin separately had pleaded guilty to misdemeanor marijuana charges.