Arrest over Cheney barb triggers lawsuit
Charlie Brennan, Rocky Mountain News
Published October 3, 2006 at midnight
A Denver-area man filed a lawsuit today against a member of the Secret Service for causing him to be arrested after he approached Vice President Dick Cheney in Beaver Creek this summer and criticized him for his policies concerning Iraq.
Attorney David Lane said that on June 16, Steve Howards was walking his 7-year-old son to a piano practice, when he saw Cheney surrounded by a group of people in an outdoor mall area, shaking hands and posing for pictures with several people.
According to the lawsuit filed at U.S. District Court in Denver, Howards and his son walked to about two-to-three feet from where Cheney was standing, and said to the vice president, "I think your policies in Iraq are reprehensible," or words to that effect, then walked on.
Ten minutes later, according to Howards' lawsuit, he and his son were walking back through the same area, when they were approached by Secret Service agent Virgil D. "Gus" Reichle Jr., who asked Howards if he had "assaulted" the vice president. Howards denied doing so, but was nonetheless placed in handcuffs and taken to the Eagle County Jail.
The lawsuit states that the Secret Service agent instructed that Howards should be issued a summons for harassment, but that on July 6 the Eagle County District Attorney's Office dismissed all charges against Howards.
The lawsuit filed today alleges that Howards was arrested in retaliation for having exercised his First Amendment right of free speech, and that his arrest violated his Fourth Amendment protection against unlawful seizure.
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April 20, 2008
11:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
denvernativeinportland writes:
NOT ONLY SHOULD CHENEY HAVE BENN LOCKED UP INSTEAD, THE WHOLE BUSH CRIME FAMILY NEEDS TO BE TRIED FOR FRAUD AND WAR CRIMES. THESE BUTCHERS DISGUST ME.
August 28, 2008
8:54 a.m.
Suggest removal
Barb writes:
Cheney is an overweight, egotistical, arrogant and condescending jerk. He knows nothing of wildlife issues either. I think this man should file harrassment charges against Cheney and his secret service people.