In June 2014, Officer William Washburn conducted an unjustified strip search of 67-year-old Christopher M. Murphy, who was arrested on a misdemeanor bench warrant. Despite Murphy’s bail being posted promptly, Washburn delayed his release by approximately two hours, stating Murphy would ‘sit in my jail for a while.’ The strip search lacked reasonable suspicion and violated the jail’s policy, which required such searches to be justified and documented. Washburn’s actions were deemed malicious, leading to a federal lawsuit reinstated in 2023, alleging violations of Murphy’s civil rights.
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