City of Dothan and Dothan Police Officer Has Suit Filed Against Them

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 7259

Posted by: RStokes
thehoustonnewspaper@yahoo.com
334-790-1729
Date: Nov 21 2009 10:36 PM

DOTHAN:    This week in Houston County Circuit Court a lawsuit has been filed against a Dothan Police Officer and the City of Dothan.

The suit has been assigned to Circuit Judge Ed Jackson. The attorneys filing the suit are Robert Sim Thompson and Tiffany Johnson of Tuskegee Alabama.

The plaintiff ( person filing the suit ) is Tommy Charles Covington. The defendant ( person being sued ) is the City of Dothan and Dothan Police Officer Kaufmann.

The allegations of the suit is that on July 26, 2008 Covington was notified that his son was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident and was at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Covington says he was traveling to the hospital, approached a traffic light, checked all directions – flashed his lights – blew his horn and proceeded cautiously through the red light.

Covington alleges a short distance from the hospital he saw the police car with blue lights, ,motioned to the hospital and pulled to the front door. Covington says he was surrounded by 5 or 6 police officers.  As he opened the door attempting to tell what was going on, the officers had their guns drawn pointing towards him.

Covington alleges that Officer Kaufman snatched him from his car, twisted his arm and pushed him into the pavement. The allegations are while the officer had Covington on the ground he placed his foot in his back and was tased with electricity.

Covington alleges that when the tasing stopped, Kaufman ordered him up. Covington complained he could not get up that his hip was hurting. Covington says he has had hip replacements.

Covington says he was arrested, handcuffed and stood up with directions to get into Kaufman’s patrol car. When he was having problems he alleges Kaufman is to have grabbed his legs and was pushed into the police car backseat.

When Covington arrived at the jail he complained of chest pains. He is reported to have been rushed back to the hospital by ambulance to be checked.

Covington claims “ based on the totality of the circumstances the officer exhibited excessive and unnecessary force and lack of skill in handling of the plaintiff.”.

The plaintiff asks for a jury trial.

Once the City of Dothan is served they will have so many days to answer the complaint. The case will then snarl it’s way through the legal system.

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