Lawsuit: Ark. Cop Chased and Tased Woman After She Refused to Show Him Her Breasts

By ERIK DE LE GARZA
Courthouse News Service
Nov. 01, 2013

LITTLE ROCK (CN) - A city cop in Arkansas chased a woman through her workplace, shooting a Taser at her, because she refused to show him her breasts, the woman claims in court.

Ashlea Bennett sued the City of Haskell, Ark. and its police Officer Brandon Carter, in Federal Court.

She claims Carter "demanded that she expose her breasts to him" after he entered her workplace while on duty and wearing his uniform.

"Carter's demands to the Plaintiff to expose herself to him occurred multiple times," she says in the lawsuit.

It continues: "That the Plaintiff refused to show her breasts to Carter.

"That, upon her refusal, Carter drew his City of Haskell-issued electroshock Taser weapon from his utility belt, pointed the weapon at plaintiff, and threatened to deploy the same against her if she would not expose her breasts to him.

"That, upon seeing the threat of unlawful force, the plaintiff took physical flight and ran from Carter."

Officer Carter then "proceeded to physically chase the plaintiff through her place of employment," the complaint states.

It continues: "That, while chasing the plaintiff, Carter activated and deployed his electroshock Taser weapon in 'drive stun' mode numerous times at or directed at the plaintiff. That Carter did these actions with the intention of causing fear, imminent fear of bodily harm, and/or emotional distress to gain the plaintiff's compliance with his sexual demands."

Bennett claims that before this Dec. 13, 2011 incident, Carter had made "inappropriate sexual comments" to her on multiple occasions "and demanded that she expose herself to him."

She claims that before Carter chased her around her office, "the City of Haskell was aware, or should have been aware, of complaints made about or issues concerning Carter's conduct, including, but not limited to, his inappropriate sexual actions occurring under color of law."

Haskell, pop. 3,990, is about 30 miles south of Little Rock in Saline County.

Bennett seeks compensatory and punitive damages for constitutional and civil rights violations, assault, failure to train and supervise, negligent supervision and outrage.

She is represented by Clinton W. Lancaster of Benton, Ark.