Officers Cleared in Federal Civil Rights Suit
posted 9:52 am Fri August 31, 2007 -
Three Fairfax County police officers have been cleared in a lawsuit accusing them of violating a planning commissioner's civil rights.
A federal jury deliberated for about three hours Thursday before ruling against 62-year-old Ronald Koch on civil charges of assault, battery, false arrest, defamation, unnecessary use of force and conspiracy.
Koch was acting as a private process server when he tried to serve a subpoena at the police station in July 2005.
He accused the officers of badgering him and trying to return the subpoena before arresting him.
The officers - Lieutenants Lance Schaible and Michael Grinnan and Officer Sean Cheetham - testified that Koch became belligerent and irrational when they approached him to explain police procedures.
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Information from: The Washington Post
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