Pa. councilman: Cursing led to arrest, strip search

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A northeast Pennsylvania councilman is suing borough officials, saying he was arrested and strip-searched after leaving them profane voice mails.

The American Civil Liberties Union represents councilman Robert Wagner of Gilberton, Schuylkill County, in the free-speech lawsuit filed today.

Wagner says he called Gilberton’s mayor and police chief last year to complain about teenagers racing all-terrain vehicles nearby. He admits the messages he left weren’t pretty.

Wagner was charged the next day with misdemeanor harassment, and strip-searched during six hours he spent in prison.

The ACLU calls the arrest “a clear abuse of power.” Their lawyers say cursing may not be nice — but is not illegal.

The defendants include Police Chief Mark Kessler and Mayor Mary Lou Hannon.