CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO – The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri has filed a lawsuit against the City of Cape Girardeau and Police Officer Matthew Peters, who made an unconstitutional arrest of their client, David Clary, on Aug. 30, 2013.
After receiving a citation for making a prohibited turn, Clary used strong language to express his displeasure to Officer Peters. Officer Peters retaliated by arresting Clary because of the content of his speech.
“This particular officer has a history of violating the First Amendment rights of residents in Cape Girardeau,” said Tony Rothert, legal director of the ACLU of Missouri. “The City of Cape Girardeau needs to train and adequately supervise its officers to prevent constitutional violations from recurring. Failure to do so allows First Amendment rights to go unprotected in Cape Girardeau.”
“Free speech is a value that Americans hold dear,” explains Jeffrey A. Mittman, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri. “Because of our First Amendment, it is particular to America that citizens are free to criticize government officials, including police officers, in harsh terms without fearing retaliation.”
The ACLU of Missouri is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to defending and expanding the constitutional rights and civil liberties of all Missourians guaranteed by the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions, and is an affiliate of the national ACLU.