Entertainment

/

ArcaMax

Suit: Officer pushed religion during traffic stop

on

Published in Weird News

HAMILTON, Ind. (UPI) -- An Indiana State Trooper conducting a traffic stop issued a woman a warning and a sermon on her need for Christianity, a lawsuit alleges.

Ellen Bogan, 60, filed a lawsuit alleging Indiana State Police Trooper Brian Hamilton tried to sell her on Christianity when she was pulled over in August in Union County and given a warning ticket.

Bogan's lawsuit, filed with the American Civil Liberties Union, alleges Hamilton asked her questions during the traffic stop about whether she had accepted Jesus Christ as her savior, and whether she has a home church.

The trooper have Bogan a lawsuit a church pamphlet that informs the reader of their status as a "sinner," the lawsuit alleges.

"It's completely out of line and it just -- it took me back," Bogan told The Indianapolis Star.

The woman said she felt she had to listen to Bogan's preaching because of his status as a state trooper.

 

"The whole time, his lights were on," Bogan said. I had no reason to believe I could just pull away at that point, even though I had my warning.

"I'm not affiliated with any church. I don't go to church," Bogan said. I felt compelled to say I did, just because I had a state trooper standing at the passenger-side window. It was just weird.

The lawsuit alleges Hamilton violated Bogan's First and Fourth Amendment rights.

A State Police spokesman said the department cannot comment on pending litigation. Hamilton could not be reached for comment, the Star said.


Copyright 2014 by United Press International

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus