In December 2008, Officer Steven Gill assisted Officer Harvey Pike in the arrest of Janet Watson, who was raking leaves on her property and refused to provide her driver’s license. Gill entered Watson’s home without a warrant and helped Pike forcibly handcuff and drag her to a police car without allowing her to put on shoes or a coat. Watson was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and interfering with lawful authority; however, the charges were later dismissed. An internal investigation revealed that several of Gill’s superiors disapproved of his handling of the situation. Watson filed a lawsuit alleging violations of her constitutional rights, assault and battery, false imprisonment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The court denied the officers’ motion for summary judgment, allowing the case to proceed to trial.
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