DOVER, AR – A Dover family says a 2011 incident shows police in the Pope County town do not have adequate controls in place to prevent the violation of individual civil rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union joined Ron Robinson, 51, Eva Robinson, 47 and the couple’s son Matthew Robinson, 18, in a multiple count civil suit against three officers, the city of Dover and the Pope County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the 42-page amended complaint filed Monday in the Eastern District of Arkansas, Eva Robinson and her son Matthew were walking the family dog across the street from their home when they were approached by a city of Dover Marshal’s officer.
The lawsuit claims the officer approached the two because of the height of the younger Robinson and that he appeared to have his hands in his pocket.
Surveillance video obtained by FOX16 shows officers pulling Matthew Robinson out of the back of a Dover Marshal’s car.
The police report from the night of September 13, 2011 was acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request and shows the officer made initial contact because “I noticed the male looking at my patrol car very intensely.”
The city of Dover would not respond to FOX16’s request for an interview about the allegations.
A jury trial is set for early 2014.
The American Civil Liberties Union joined Ron Robinson, 51, Eva Robinson, 47 and the couple’s son Matthew Robinson, 18, in a multiple count civil suit against three officers, the city of Dover and the Pope County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the 42-page amended complaint filed Monday in the Eastern District of Arkansas, Eva Robinson and her son Matthew were walking the family dog across the street from their home when they were approached by a city of Dover Marshal’s officer.
The lawsuit claims the officer approached the two because of the height of the younger Robinson and that he appeared to have his hands in his pocket.
Surveillance video obtained by FOX16 shows officers pulling Matthew Robinson out of the back of a Dover Marshal’s car.
The police report from the night of September 13, 2011 was acquired through a Freedom of Information Act request and shows the officer made initial contact because “I noticed the male looking at my patrol car very intensely.”
The city of Dover would not respond to FOX16’s request for an interview about the allegations.
A jury trial is set for early 2014.