Post by Shuftin on Sept 2, 2006 15:08:19 GMT -5
2006-09-01
BARBER COUNTY, KANSAS – A man is arrested for allegedly bringing drugs in to a county jail. Now that man says a surveillance tape proves a police officer planted the pot.
The Barber County jail's booking room has a surveillance camera. Last September, Medicine Lodge Police Officer Ryan McNeil escorted Robert Schinstock into the jail to be booked on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. Videotape captured the events that happened inside the booking room.
Schinstock's attorney Craig Schultz says the video shows Officer McNeil had a packet in his left hand. Schultz says as Officer McNeil pulled out a chair, he turned and dropped the packet on the floor. Moments later, Officer McNeil walked over and picked something up off the floor. On the tape, Officer McNeil is heard saying the package fell out of Schinstock's pants. The package contained marijuana.
When contacted, Officer McNeil said he wasn't aware of the lawsuit. Police Chief Ryan Miller says their original charges against Schinstock are based on what they believed happened in the case.
Most officials couldn't comment on the case because they hadn't seen the complaint. City Administrator Ted Hauser says anybody can file a lawsuit. Hauser says proving it is another factor. The suit seeks actual and punitive damages of $700,000.
BARBER COUNTY, KANSAS – A man is arrested for allegedly bringing drugs in to a county jail. Now that man says a surveillance tape proves a police officer planted the pot.
The Barber County jail's booking room has a surveillance camera. Last September, Medicine Lodge Police Officer Ryan McNeil escorted Robert Schinstock into the jail to be booked on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. Videotape captured the events that happened inside the booking room.
Schinstock's attorney Craig Schultz says the video shows Officer McNeil had a packet in his left hand. Schultz says as Officer McNeil pulled out a chair, he turned and dropped the packet on the floor. Moments later, Officer McNeil walked over and picked something up off the floor. On the tape, Officer McNeil is heard saying the package fell out of Schinstock's pants. The package contained marijuana.
When contacted, Officer McNeil said he wasn't aware of the lawsuit. Police Chief Ryan Miller says their original charges against Schinstock are based on what they believed happened in the case.
Most officials couldn't comment on the case because they hadn't seen the complaint. City Administrator Ted Hauser says anybody can file a lawsuit. Hauser says proving it is another factor. The suit seeks actual and punitive damages of $700,000.