CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Another lawsuit claiming police brutality has been filed against the city of Montgomery, a former officer there and another officer on administrative leave.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Department is investigating, and FBI officials have said they are assisting in the investigation.
In another lawsuit, Veronia Strickland claims that Smithers Police Chief Gary Perdue, who also is a Montgomery officer, told her that the cost of running Ray's City Cab was $2,000 a month shortly after she bought the business in December 2004, according to a suit filed Sept. 5 by Charleston lawyers Mike Callaghan and Mark Kelley.
Fayette County resident Clyde Sullivan filed a lawsuit in May, alleging that Smithers and Montgomery police harassed him and violated his rights on several occasions.
According to the lawsuit filed by Clifford, Sullivan was "viciously assaulted, thrown against his car and later thrown down on the pavement" by Smithers Police Officer R.V. Neal. Two other Smithers officers also were present, the lawsuit alleges, and two Montgomery officers also are named in the lawsuit.
A lawsuit alleging sexual assault was filed against Leavitt, a Cedar Grove officer at the time, and another Cedar Grove officer in October.
Leavitt, along with a Cedar Grove officer identified as R. Curry and a Kanawha County sheriff's deputy, held Patricia O'Scha on a hill across from Riverside High School on March 15, according to the lawsuit. The three allegedly told her that if she would have sex with any of the officers, she would not have to go to jail.
Leavitt then did a pat down of O'Scha, according to the filing, "including placing his hands on her breasts, her [rear end], and between her legs."
O'Scha said Leavitt found several prescription pills inside the vehicle, along with about $1,000. O'Scha, who says she was addicted to and abusing prescription medications, was charged with possession of drugs with intent to deliver.
She was alone with Leavitt from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. at the Montgomery police station, according to the complaint. During the three-hour period, Leavitt kept implying that O'Scha should have sex with Leavitt or give him oral sex, according to the complaint.
Clifford said this might not be the end of lawsuits against Montgomery police, Hutchinson and Leavitt. "We shall see whether more are coming," he said.
Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 348-5163
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Another lawsuit claiming police brutality has been filed against the city of Montgomery, a former officer there and another officer on administrative leave.
According to a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Matthew Leavitt and Shawn Hutchinson, both Montgomery police officers at the time, responded to a 911 call at the home of Roderick White on Sept. 29.
Leavitt jumped on White's back, causing him to fall to the ground. Leavitt then told Hutchinson to spray White with a chemical agent and used racial slurs, according to the lawsuit filed by attorney Mike Clifford.
After White was arrested, he was thrown down stairs while handcuffed and beaten on his right side, according to the suit.
Clifford said he filed the lawsuit after Kanawha County Magistrate Tim Halloran dropped charges against White stemming from the incident on Oct. 30.
Roderick White's wife, Lakisha White, told the Gazette in October that the officers also sprayed her, and that Leavitt grabbed her by the back of the neck, injuring her spine.
"He threatened to 'blow my fat black ass away,'" she said. "He said, 'Bitch, I own you. I own the streets of Montgomery.'"
Leavitt said in October that he believed Roderick White was under the influence of crack cocaine during the incident. "The minimum force was applied to control the situation," he said.
He declined to comment on the lawsuit on Wednesday. Montgomery Police Chief Pete Lopez did not return phone calls on Wednesday.
There are several lawsuits pending against Montgomery police, Leavitt and Hutchinson.
In a lawsuit filed by Twan Reynolds and his wife, Lauren, Leavitt and Hutchinson are accused of repeatedly hitting Twan Reynolds over the head with a blackjack, kicking him in the back and spraying his eyes with Mace at close range on Sept. 26.
They also say Leavitt repeatedly used a racial epithet against Twan Reynolds, and Lauren Reynolds accused Leavitt of licking her on the neck during an interrogation and saying, "Little whore, you like it like that."
Leavitt was suspended and Hutchinson was fired after that alleged incident.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Department is investigating, and FBI officials have said they are assisting in the investigation.
In another lawsuit, Veronia Strickland claims that Smithers Police Chief Gary Perdue, who also is a Montgomery officer, told her that the cost of running Ray's City Cab was $2,000 a month shortly after she bought the business in December 2004, according to a suit filed Sept. 5 by Charleston lawyers Mike Callaghan and Mark Kelley.
Fayette County resident Clyde Sullivan filed a lawsuit in May, alleging that Smithers and Montgomery police harassed him and violated his rights on several occasions.
According to the lawsuit filed by Clifford, Sullivan was "viciously assaulted, thrown against his car and later thrown down on the pavement" by Smithers Police Officer R.V. Neal. Two other Smithers officers also were present, the lawsuit alleges, and two Montgomery officers also are named in the lawsuit.
A lawsuit alleging sexual assault was filed against Leavitt, a Cedar Grove officer at the time, and another Cedar Grove officer in October.
Leavitt, along with a Cedar Grove officer identified as R. Curry and a Kanawha County sheriff's deputy, held Patricia O'Scha on a hill across from Riverside High School on March 15, according to the lawsuit. The three allegedly told her that if she would have sex with any of the officers, she would not have to go to jail.
Leavitt then did a pat down of O'Scha, according to the filing, "including placing his hands on her breasts, her [rear end], and between her legs."
O'Scha said Leavitt found several prescription pills inside the vehicle, along with about $1,000. O'Scha, who says she was addicted to and abusing prescription medications, was charged with possession of drugs with intent to deliver.
She was alone with Leavitt from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. at the Montgomery police station, according to the complaint. During the three-hour period, Leavitt kept implying that O'Scha should have sex with Leavitt or give him oral sex, according to the complaint.
Clifford said this might not be the end of lawsuits against Montgomery police, Hutchinson and Leavitt. "We shall see whether more are coming," he said.
Reach Gary Harki at gha...@wvgazette.com or 348-5163
Chronicling police oversight in West Virginia
Get Connected