Woman sues Metro Police over arrest

Kim Smith

Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000 | 11:14 a.m.

A Jean woman arrested by Metro Police two years ago has filed a federal lawsuit against the department claiming officers violated her civil rights and used excessive force.

Genevieve Bridges claims in her lawsuit that Metro officers slammed her head into a police car, touched her inappropriately and used two cans of pepper spray on her on Jan. 12, 1998.

Metro Lt. Marc Joseph declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the department's policy of not commenting on pending litigation.

According to the lawsuit, Metro was called to the Sunrise Suites RV Park, 4445 S. Boulder Highway, after park security accused Bridges of driving too fast and her husband, Paul, of domestic violence.

After she was questioned, Bridges claims, officers entered her home without her permission to search for her husband. When she objected, Bridges said, she was falsely arrested for battery of a police officer, verbally abused and assaulted. Medical personnel at the jail also coerced her into signing a medical report at the hospital that did not document all of her injuries, the suit says.