BOARDMAN POLICE Woman sues over traffic stop

The plaintiff's son was arrested, but he's not mentioned in the suit.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- A Youngstown woman is seeking unspecified damages from the township police department and several officers, claiming they violated her rights during a 1999 traffic stop.
Connie C. Hightower, Willis Avenue, through the Cleveland law office of Chattman, Gaines & amp; Stern, filed a civil suit earlier this week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court claiming violation of her constitutional rights, loss of physical liberty, physical pain and suffering, and emotional trauma and suffering, requiring her to spend money for treatment.
Township Patrolman Jack Cochran and several other officers referred to as "John Does" are named in the suit.
Township police records show Cochran and other officers stopped Hightower at the intersection of Market Street and Meadowbrook Drive for not having driving privileges. Reports say she was issued a citation for driving under suspension.
Allegations: The suit says Cochran and other officers used excessive force and wrongfully injured Hightower. Hightower says in the suit she did not become belligerent with the officers and did not interfere with the execution of their duties.
Records from Mahoning County Area Court here show Hightower eventually pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of having no operator's license and was fined $50 plus court costs. Court records show that her license was initially suspended for a previous seat-belt violation that she did not take care of in court.
Son: Police records say that during the same traffic stop in which Hightower was issued the citation for driving under suspension, her son, Adrian Hightower, 22, who was in the car, was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, and felony assault.
Reports say Adrian Hightower repeatedly refused to obey officers' orders to remain inside the car and, when being placed under arrest, pulled away from officers and pushed Cochran. The report doesn't mention any injuries to Connie Hightower.
Adrian Hightower is not mentioned in the suit.
Connie Hightower is seeking compensatory damages in an amount to be determined by a jury. The case is assigned to Judge Robert Lisotto.