Cobb County, Ga., will have to pay a woman $100,000 after police arrested her for swearing.
Georgia County Pays Woman $100K to Settle Free Speech Lawsuit Against Police
Barnes said she was riding her bike on Austell Road to get butter for her family Easter Sunday when she saw the two officers. She said she cursed at them and flipped them off, and they came after her.
December 16, 2014
Amy Barnes was arrested after yelling an expletive at officers and flipping them off. Last week she was awarded $100,000 to settle a First Amendment lawsuit. (Photo: WSB TV)
Amy Barnes sued after she faced charges in 2012 for cursing and flipping off two officers.
Barnes said she was riding her bike on Austell Road to get butter for her family Easter Sunday when she saw the two officers. She said she cursed at them and flipped them off, and they came after her.
"They came after me like it was some action movie,” Barnes told WSB TV .
Barnes is hearing impaired and said that's the reason police gave her for putting her in solitary confinement for 23 hours on a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge. She called it torture.
Barnes’ lawyer said police officers violated her first amendment rights.
A judge dismissed all the charges against Barnes in April 2013.
More Patrol
From the Show Floor: Axon
Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.
Read More →
Back Face Deformation, Brain Injury and Ballistic Helmets – Why the “Dent Doesn’t Matter” Claim Ignores Science
Alex Poythress, co-founder and CEO of Ballistic Armor Co., explains why ballistic helmet buyers should insist on full test data, including BFD measurements, standoff distance, and padding configuration, rather than rely solely on penetration ratings.
Read More →
Streamlight Marks 15 Years of Support for Breast Cancer Research Foundation With $20k Donation
In its 15th year of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Streamlight donated $20,000 to help in the fight against cancer. Donations were generated through the sale of special Wedge XT models and other pink flashlights.
Read More →
Police-Led Mental Health Charity Expands to Include Veterans
Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.
Read More →
WakeMed Campus Police Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting
A WakeMed Campus Police Officer died after being shot in the lobby of the emergency department at a North Carolina hospital over the weekend.
Read More →
Video Shows Barricaded Suspect Fall Through Ceiling and Into SWAT Custody
Deputies in Indian River County, Florida, apprehended a suspect after he fell through the ceiling with SWAT members waiting below. The sheriff’s department released video of the apprehension.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: T2 Systems
Learn about T2 Systems and its electronic parking enforcement solutions. Retired Chief John Holland outlines the benefits of using such a system to manage parking enforcement.
Read More →
Texas Police Department Adds Reconview Tower
A Texas police chief shares how the Decatur Police Department will use its new Reconview observation tower.
Read More →
From the Show Floor: Traka
Join POLICE as we visit with Steve Atkinson of Traka and learn about the company’s asset management cabinets and key lockers.
Read More →
Team Wendy Shares New DREW Data During Personal Armour Systems Symposium
Team Wendy shared data about DREW, a biofidelic helmet-test rig built to simulate real head-to-ground falls and capture both linear and rotational head motion, during the recent Personal Armour Systems Symposium in Belgium.
Read More →