STRIP-SEARCHES City settles 2 more suits

The city will be discussing another case in federal court today.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The city paid a total of $25,000 to settle two more lawsuits filed by men who say they were illegally strip-searched by city police.
Jim Sanders, an assistant city law director, said the city paid Adam Carson of Aspen Drive, Warren, $15,000 to settle his case; and Hargus Hall of Knapp Drive, Cortland, $10,000.
The settlements were reached last month.
Both men stated in their lawsuits that they were strip-searched in April 2002.
Neither Carson, Hall, nor their attorney Ray Masek, could be reached.
"I thought the settlement was in the best interest of the city," Sanders said. "After discussion with our insurance carrier, we felt this was in the best interest of the city and the parties involved."
Other cases
In December, the city had settled a lawsuit filed by LaShawn Ziegler and Brandon Rogers, who also stated they were illegally strip-searched after being stopped on traffic charges.
The two men said they were strip searched in the same holding cell. The city settled that lawsuit for $52,000, officials said.
City officials will be discussing another lawsuit today in federal court.
Atty. Gil Rucker, who represents Willie Summerlin, said a hearing is scheduled for today in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.
Summerlin said he was illegally searched when pulled over for a traffic violation on Dec. 30.
A review of the videotape from the cruiser, which also includes sound, shows officers searching Summerlin and his vehicle. Summerlin said officers grabbed his crotch area and searched inside his pockets.
When officers returned to the cruiser, they can be heard arguing with Summerlin. The tape was shut off during the conversation between Summerlin and the officers.
Summerlin's lawsuit states that patrol officers Ed Hetmanski and Joseph Kistler violated Summerlin's constitutional rights during the traffic stop.
The search was done in front of the home of Summerlin's friend on Iowa Street and was videotaped by his friend's grandchildren.