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A lawsuit filed earlier this month in federal court claims a Warsaw woman was beaten by police and also that her husband and son were subsequently harassed by officers performing traffic stops.
The case was filed Jan. 3 in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. A notice of tort claim concerning the matter was filed June 30, 1999. The attorneys in the case are Christopher C. Myers and Shane C. Mulholland of Christopher C. Myers & Associates, Fort Wayne.
The plaintiffs in the case are Claude, Mary and Danny Wood. The lawsuit alleges that Mary Wood was physically beaten by Warsaw police officers Jan. 3, 1999, when she brought her son to the Bowen Center for treatment of a psychological disorder. A doctor at the center summoned police because Mary Wood would not leave the facility without her son.
Mary Wood was arrested during the incident and the lawsuit claims that in addition to police using excessive force, she was falsely arrested, unlawfully confined and had pain and punishment intentionally inflicted upon her. Her injuries reportedly included physical pain and mental suffering, attorney's fees, fright, anxiety, mental anguish and other damages and injuries.
The case also alleges that Claude and Danny Wood were retaliated against by being pulled over on numerous occasions between late 1999 and the spring of 2000 because of their relationship with Mary Wood after her filing of the tort claim.
Named as defendants in the case are Ptl. Steven E. Rockey, Ptl. Gregory M. Oberlin, Ptl. Douglas Light, Dr. Philip Creps, the city of Warsaw, Otis R. Bowen Center for Human Services Inc. and other unidentified police officers for the city of Warsaw.
An unspecified amount is sought for compensatory, pecuniary and punitive damages. The Woods also seek attorney fees and court costs and request a trial by jury.
