CHARLESTON, W.Va. - An officer who works for the Smithers and Montgomery police departments tried to shake down the owner of a local cab company, a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court alleges.

Gary Perdue, who serves as Smithers' chief of police and is also a member of Montgomery's department, allegedly told Veronia Strickland that the cost of running Ray's City Cab was $2,000 a month shortly after the Powellton resident bought the business in December 2004.

The municipalities of Smithers and Montgomery are also named as defendants.

According to the suit, filed by Charleston lawyers Mike Callaghan and Mark Kelley, Perdue approached Strickland at the company's office in Montgomery in either late May or early June 2005 and told her that her taxis were picking up drug users at known drug houses and giving them rides home.

"Strickland advised Officer Perdue that she had no knowledge of any drug houses and if Officer Perdue had knowledge of these drug houses, then [he] should do his job and shut them down," the lawsuit states.

Perdue then threatened to pull over her cabs, charge them with possession of drugs and have the taxis towed if she refused to pay him, the suit maintains.

Perdue later ticketed a Ray's City Cab driver, but the suit does not specify where, when or under what circumstances.

Perdue declined Monday to comment on the lawsuit.

The suit also alleges Strickland discovered that Peggy Harper, the company's bookkeeper, had embezzled more than $85,000 from the firm between Dec. 17, 2004, and Jan. 31, 2007. The suit also contends that during this period, Harper was having an extramarital affair with Perdue.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - An officer who works for the Smithers and Montgomery police departments tried to shake down the owner of a local cab company, a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court alleges.

Gary Perdue, who serves as Smithers' chief of police and is also a member of Montgomery's department, allegedly told Veronia Strickland that the cost of running Ray's City Cab was $2,000 a month shortly after the Powellton resident bought the business in December 2004.

The municipalities of Smithers and Montgomery are also named as defendants.

According to the suit, filed by Charleston lawyers Mike Callaghan and Mark Kelley, Perdue approached Strickland at the company's office in Montgomery in either late May or early June 2005 and told her that her taxis were picking up drug users at known drug houses and giving them rides home.

"Strickland advised Officer Perdue that she had no knowledge of any drug houses and if Officer Perdue had knowledge of these drug houses, then [he] should do his job and shut them down," the lawsuit states.

Perdue then threatened to pull over her cabs, charge them with possession of drugs and have the taxis towed if she refused to pay him, the suit maintains.

Perdue later ticketed a Ray's City Cab driver, but the suit does not specify where, when or under what circumstances.

Perdue declined Monday to comment on the lawsuit.

The suit also alleges Strickland discovered that Peggy Harper, the company's bookkeeper, had embezzled more than $85,000 from the firm between Dec. 17, 2004, and Jan. 31, 2007. The suit also contends that during this period, Harper was having an extramarital affair with Perdue.

Perdue allegedly pulled over a cab driven by Strickland on Aug. 17, 2007, and used excessive force during the traffic stop.

"While in police custody, Officer Perdue advised Veronia Strickland that the taxi cab was stopped because [he] wanted to sort out personal issues with Veronia Strickland involving Peggy Harper," the suit reads.

Strickland was later released without being charged, the suit contends.

Three days later, Strickland and her boyfriend, Damian Wales, filed a complaint about Perdue with the Montgomery Police Department, the suit maintains.

In response to the complaint, Perdue threatened Strickland and Wales, suggesting that he would set them up on trumped-up drug charges, according to the suit.

Strickland withdrew the complaint on Aug. 21, 2007, but Perdue has continued to threaten and harass the couple, the suit maintains.

The suit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 348-1723.