Ohio woman sues over arrest

Monday, April 4, 2005 | 9:31 a.m.

RENO -- An Ohio woman has sued the Peppermill Hotel-Casino and the city of Reno, claiming she was arrested for trespassing even though she was a guest of the resort.

Gloria Durante of Columbus claims in a civil rights lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Reno that a police officer and resort security guard ignored her when she said she was a guest and not drunk.

The September 2003 arrest came after Durante fainted because of medication she took for a heart condition, according to the suit.

"This would have never happened to a white tourist staying at the hotel," said Durante, 69, who is black.

Peppermill and city officials said they could not comment on the case.

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