Suit filed against city, county officers (3/19/05)

A Portland man, alleging excessive force was used by Portland and Jay County police when he was arrested twice in 2003, has filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland, Jay County and four police officers.

A complaint was filed Tuesday in Jay Superior Court by Joseph Fields, 34, for alleged incidents during his arrests on March 15, 2003 and Aug. 16, 2003.

According to information from Fields’ lawyer Robert O. Beymer of Muncie and the filed complaint, on March 15, 2003, then Jay County deputy Travis Weaver and former Portland police officers Brad Ridenour and Chad Ridenour used excessive force while arresting Fields. Weaver is now investigator for the sheriff’s department.

Fields was arrested for resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor, and public intoxication, a class B misdemeanor.

Beymer said Friday he was not sure if Fields went to the hospital for his injuries following the arrest.

On Aug. 16, 2003, Fields was arrested for resisting law enforcement, a class A misdemeanor, and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor. He alleges that former Portland police officer Brad Ridenour and Portland police officer Steve Schlechty used excessive force during that arrest.

Police were called because Fields broke a window at a Portland business.

Beymer said Friday afternoon that Fields was treated for a broken wrist following his arrest on Aug. 16.

Fields later pleaded guilty to public intoxication, a class B misdemeanor, from the March arrest and criminal mischief, a class B misdemeanor, from the August arrest. He was sentenced in Jay Superior Court in March 2004 for the two charges.

The complaint does not state what, if any, specific damages he is seeking.

Portland Police Chief Bob Sours declined to comment on the complaint Friday afternoon. Jay County Sheriff Todd Penrod was unavailable for comment Friday.[[In-content Ad]]