Post by KC on Nov 19, 2006 22:35:19 GMT -5
A Christiansburg woman and her son are suing the town and several members of its police force for $40 million -- about 18 times more than the town spent on the town hall that officials moved into in 2004.
The federal lawsuit claims that what began as spousal abuse became an abuse of power when a police officer who was involved -- and for a time living with the woman's estranged husband -- intervened.
Wendy Covington charges that on Oct. 12, 2004, her husband, Gary Covington, beat her while she held her 22-month-old son in her arms. The lawsuit says Gary Covington knocked Wendy Covington to the ground in the yard in front of their home and continued kicking her until she lost consciousness. When she came to, she called police.
When Christiansburg police arrived, Gary Covington admitted beating his wife, the lawsuit says. He was arrested and taken from the scene.
Officer Pam Semones arrived after the investigation had begun but demanded repeatedly, according to the lawsuit, that she be given control of the investigation. Wendy Covington alleges that Semones insisted that Wendy Covington get in Semones' patrol car. Once inside, Semones said she was going to arrest Covington for abusing her husband and would do whatever she could do to take Covington's children away, the lawsuit states.
Semones took Covington before a magistrate who ordered Covington to provide a vehicle for her husband, the lawsuit states. Later that day, Semones brought Gary Covington to Wendy Covington's home, though each Covington had been required by a magistrate to have no contact with the other for 72 hours, the suit says. Semones, according to the lawsuit, demanded that Wendy Covington pack clothes and personal effects for Gary Covington. Semones also took a car for Gary Covington's use, the suit states.
Wendy Covington alleges that when she tried to get a protective order against Gary Covington, Semones intercepted the paperwork, told a judge it was fraudulent, said Wendy Covington had lied about being abused and that Wendy Covington was, in fact, the abuser.
The lawsuit says Wendy Covington took her son and stepson to the Women's Resource Center in Radford, where members of the Radford police force detained her, saying they were waiting for the necessary papers to arrest her for kidnapping. Instead, she was ordered to appear on a charge of violating the court order barring her from contacting her husband. The charge stemmed from a call Wendy Covington was said to have made to her sister-in-law.
While Wendy Covington was detained, the lawsuit says, Semones came to the Women's Resource Center and took Covington's children, who had been left at the center with Covington's mother. Semones took the children to Gary Covington, according to the suit.
The suit also says Semones successfully worked to stop Gary Covington's prosecution for abuse.
The suit claims Wendy Covington complained repeatedly to the Christiansburg Police Department about Semones' behavior, but received no satisfaction. An internal investigation began "only within the last few months," the suit charges.
Semones gained public attention in 1999 when she married magistrate Terry Early. Semones continued to bring cases before Early even though Virginia law prohibits magistrates from hearing cases involving family members. Early lost his job over the incident. The marriage lasted about 13 months.
Wendy Covington filed for divorce in May 2005. The case is still pending.
Neither Semones, Police Chief Gary Brumfield, nor Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny returned calls Thursday.
Wendy Covington could not be reached, but her attorneys, John Fishwick and Monica Mroz, issued the following statement: "Wendy Covington's and her son's civil rights were severely violated by the defendants. This case addresses the importance of having an independent and unbiased police force. We look forward to the trial of this matter."
The defendants have not filed their response to the lawsuit.
News researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this report.
www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-91962
The federal lawsuit claims that what began as spousal abuse became an abuse of power when a police officer who was involved -- and for a time living with the woman's estranged husband -- intervened.
Wendy Covington charges that on Oct. 12, 2004, her husband, Gary Covington, beat her while she held her 22-month-old son in her arms. The lawsuit says Gary Covington knocked Wendy Covington to the ground in the yard in front of their home and continued kicking her until she lost consciousness. When she came to, she called police.
When Christiansburg police arrived, Gary Covington admitted beating his wife, the lawsuit says. He was arrested and taken from the scene.
Officer Pam Semones arrived after the investigation had begun but demanded repeatedly, according to the lawsuit, that she be given control of the investigation. Wendy Covington alleges that Semones insisted that Wendy Covington get in Semones' patrol car. Once inside, Semones said she was going to arrest Covington for abusing her husband and would do whatever she could do to take Covington's children away, the lawsuit states.
Semones took Covington before a magistrate who ordered Covington to provide a vehicle for her husband, the lawsuit states. Later that day, Semones brought Gary Covington to Wendy Covington's home, though each Covington had been required by a magistrate to have no contact with the other for 72 hours, the suit says. Semones, according to the lawsuit, demanded that Wendy Covington pack clothes and personal effects for Gary Covington. Semones also took a car for Gary Covington's use, the suit states.
Wendy Covington alleges that when she tried to get a protective order against Gary Covington, Semones intercepted the paperwork, told a judge it was fraudulent, said Wendy Covington had lied about being abused and that Wendy Covington was, in fact, the abuser.
The lawsuit says Wendy Covington took her son and stepson to the Women's Resource Center in Radford, where members of the Radford police force detained her, saying they were waiting for the necessary papers to arrest her for kidnapping. Instead, she was ordered to appear on a charge of violating the court order barring her from contacting her husband. The charge stemmed from a call Wendy Covington was said to have made to her sister-in-law.
While Wendy Covington was detained, the lawsuit says, Semones came to the Women's Resource Center and took Covington's children, who had been left at the center with Covington's mother. Semones took the children to Gary Covington, according to the suit.
The suit also says Semones successfully worked to stop Gary Covington's prosecution for abuse.
The suit claims Wendy Covington complained repeatedly to the Christiansburg Police Department about Semones' behavior, but received no satisfaction. An internal investigation began "only within the last few months," the suit charges.
Semones gained public attention in 1999 when she married magistrate Terry Early. Semones continued to bring cases before Early even though Virginia law prohibits magistrates from hearing cases involving family members. Early lost his job over the incident. The marriage lasted about 13 months.
Wendy Covington filed for divorce in May 2005. The case is still pending.
Neither Semones, Police Chief Gary Brumfield, nor Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny returned calls Thursday.
Wendy Covington could not be reached, but her attorneys, John Fishwick and Monica Mroz, issued the following statement: "Wendy Covington's and her son's civil rights were severely violated by the defendants. This case addresses the importance of having an independent and unbiased police force. We look forward to the trial of this matter."
The defendants have not filed their response to the lawsuit.
News researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this report.
www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-91962