There is a shocking lawsuit filed against the Citrus County Sheriff’s Department in Florida in which Leila Tarantino claims that she was pulled over for going through a stop sign and then stripped searched by the side of the road in front of her children.
Tarantino says that she was pulled over last July for allegedly rolling through a stop sign. She claims the officer immediately pulled his weapon and pulled her from the car without explanation or warning. She says that she was left in the back of his squad car for two hours and then strip searched by the side of the road in full view of bystanders. She further claims that a female officer “forcibly removed” a tampon from her during the strip search. She claims that there were five male officers and one female officer.
The civil action suit is against the government of Citrus County, Florida, Sheriff Jeffrey Dawsey and six unnamed police officers.
This is one of those cases where only a fraction of the allegations would need to be proven to make for an outrageous case. A strip search by the side of the road is itself a gross violation of standard procedures. We have not however heard from the officers or the department. They may contest that this was an actual strip search and contest the specific graphic details of the complaint below.
The long period of detention and lack of charges however raise serious questions regarding the basis for holding Tarantino. She was released with only a citation.
Here is a copy of the lawsuit.
Source: RT
Kudos: Catherine Maloney
Yeah, there is something gassy here alright . . .
I don’t understand why it was necessary to bring up the woman’s past, whatever it might be. If the whole idea is to not approach this with bias/ emotion, what is the point, then, of bringing up her alleged past if not to engender bias/emotion against this lady?
And yes, Shano, you are so correct about past minor infractions used as an excuse to degrade, abuse and pile on. Even when the “offender” is a minor. This is why I continue to read this blog. Any one of us can become a victim to these increasingly shocking abuses.
Nick,
I’ve never been there, but apparently you have.
Is it a rabbit hole we have fell into?
I always think of the cowboy horse who breaks his leg in a gopher hole and has to be shot. Different people/different associations. Cool.
Maybe he means well, but his pedagogy is not up to par with the needs of humans.
Wait until you see his attack against the establishment. Pure joy to watch (for me at least).
“Anything about this woman not directly related and relevant to the case at bar is inadmissible character evidence. Her character is not in question here. The potential abuse of her civil rights is though. A road side strip search is an egregious abuse of civil rights and there is no excuse for it procedurally.”
And since police actions must be within grounds which will stand judicial scrutiny, then their actions are out of bounds.
But the next question is why do they then do these egregrious deeds consistently, and with higher authorities protection behind them?
Is it all’s fair in love and war, and there is no love here?
PS A balloon just passed over 300 feet up and gassing.
Sounded like a dragon expressing his anger.
idealist707, LOL! You indeed did. Please continue to be my guide through the Wonderland aspect here.
To those screaming “this is a result of the supreme courts strip search ruling last year”… It’s not. That ruling (Florence v. Burlington County) had to do with facilities only. It was about detainees receiving a “close visual” inspection upon admit and incarceration or holding – nothing more. There is nothing in the ruling or the suit that brought it to suggest you can “be stripped at any time for anything”. The Florence ruling was a shame, but not applicable here.
This incident appears to be something else entirely.
Nick,
I warned you.
Reason # 311 why I never want to move to Florida, live in Florida or visit Florida again (been there once, that’s enough).
On one of my not-better days I managed to slide thru a stop sign – directly in front of a cop. He did a u-turn and pulled me over. Actually, at first sign of the u-turn I pulled over. When he came to the window I gave him my license and registration. I had time to get it out while he did his cop thing in the car. He asked if I knew why I was pulled over. I said,”‘yes, I slid thru the stop sign.” No weapon was used. Cop was polite. I was polite (and ready to pay accept the ticket and pay the fine). He let me off with a warning. whew. So glad I didn’t do that in FL.
Rickad, I merely was explaining my experience as it is pertinent to the subject. I’m retired, and even when I worked, anyone who knows me will tell you I’m as low key as they come. Being low key is my personality and it fits well w/ being an effective PI, doing a lot of undercover work. I am a uber introvert actually. I just can’t stand people who don’t understand that facts are how you decide a case, not emotion or bias. If this allegation is true, as I said previously, Citrus County better have big bucks in reserve and I hope the plaintiff gets it all. I’ve just been around to long to cut her a check today. I feel like I fell down the rabbit hole here.
nick,
I’m not picking a winner at all. I’m keeping focused on the salient issue – which again is not the woman’s parenting skills. The matter is obviously one of contention as suit has been filed, however and as our host noted, that even if a portion of the allegations are true this is an outrageous case of abuse under color of authority. As to your agenda? I didn’t say you had one. I said your shouting and reflex defense of authority figures was irrational. Just because you’re irrational and wrong to focus on her parenting abilities which are totally unrelated to the case at bar doesn’t mean you have an agenda. It simply means you’re irrational and wrong. That doesn’t require psychic ability. That simply requires logic. Anything about this woman not directly related and relevant to the case at bar is inadmissible character evidence. Her character is not in question here. The potential abuse of her civil rights is though. A road side strip search is an egregious abuse of civil rights and there is no excuse for it procedurally. If they reasonably suspected her of being dangerous or something of the like that merits a strip search, she should have been taken in, booked and properly processed. If a road side strip search was performed here no matter what she did in the past or what the cops suspected about this woman, it is an abuse of authority. End of story.
Rickad,
Now play nice…. There are blog cops on here…..
*Gene H.
*spin*-elli was just trying to impress with his superior sleuthing PI credentials.
Now bow your head in submission to the tough guy and admit you are an emotional twit for failing to be impressed.
Gene H, Unless some extreme circumstances exist, I agree w/ you a roadside strip search is an abuse of authority. And, if you would read what I said about my knowing quite well about police abuse, you would understand I don’t have an agenda; except patience and waiting for the facts to evolve. You’re picking a winner after the opening kickoff just occurred. You must be psychic and know that’s what occurred. Or maybe you just hate cops? Do you have any experience in the law?
Wow, This is a tough shoot from the hip crowd, or as Rodney Dangerfield would say, “Tough crowd..tough crowd,” as he pulled as his collar.
idealist707, I thought about the mule possibility. There’s nothing in her court background to indicate that.
Pacer is the Federal online court records. This case was filed a week ago[8/3/12]. Since I’m not as smart as all you folks who seem to know exactly what happened on that roadside, I’ll follow this case on Pacer.I just checked and the compalint is the only substantive record filed to date.
Can all you psychics tell me who’s going to win @ Arlington Park tomorrow? I’m going down there w/ some friends. Or are your psychic abilities limited to the past?
nick,
No. My reaction is rational and focused on the salient issue (which is not the victim’s fitness as a parent). Your shouting response and reflexive defense of authority figures is irrational. And there is nothing alleged about a road side strip search being an abuse of authority unless you’re an idiot. It’s an abuse of authority.
But please feel free to shout some more. It makes your objections seem that much more credible. And by credible I mean ridiculous.
It is the cops thinking anyone with a ‘record’ ie – pot arrest or other non violent offenses can be treated as less than human. they see a ‘record’ for someone who made a minor traffic violation and decide they get to punish them for that and their past ‘law’ breaking.
The cops get to racially profile now too.
She is a nice looking young woman, do any think that did not have some little part in what the cops decided they could and would do to her?
I want to see photos of the tubby fat acne scarred smelly bad breathed cops who ganged up on her and her babies for hours.
Names and photos, please.
Shano buddy,
What do you have against “the tubby fat acne scarred smelly bad breathed….???
Better abuse please. Smile.
MikeS,
Something for you. Google Map review of “Roman” Temple at Baalbek, Lebanon, from 8,000 plus BC.
“Paul Zola reviewed a month ago
Quality 3 / 3
Though the Romans built on this site, calling it the Temple of Jupiter, among other things, they of course were not the original builders. This site includes a foundation of stones larger and more vast in scale than the Great Pyramid at Giza, thus being the largest building project completed on the earth by early man. It is still debated who actually planned and built the Original Temple and Palaces of the complex. I am surprised that it is not listed as “Temple of Jupiter.” Notice that the area of the foundation is larger than any other buildings nearby, including the modern soccer stadium. The foundation dates to some ~8500 B.C. by records of the Sumerians. Don’t forget to check out the site of the nearby Garden of Eden(E.Din) near the Cedar Forest toward the mountains. Make the most of your trip to this area.”
Was there in ’66.
Gene H, Your reaction is emotional. I concede the point that the ALLEGED ABUSE OF AUTHORITY IS UNNACCEPTABLE. My God, I’m just saying we don’t have any facts..JUST HER COMPLAINT. Did you read everything I said??
There is the possibility that she is “Mule of the Year”, body cavity condom division, many things attached to string department.
But that still does not excuse any part of the alleged actions.
Wasn’t it the Sct decision to permit routine searchs upon arrival at arrest facilities that perhaps tickles Feemeister’s memory?