EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon utility official has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that Eugene police used excessive force and violated her civil rights during a 2009 drug raid.
The complaint filed by Eugene Water & Electric Board Commissioner JoAnn Ernst also includes her three adult children. It seeks unspecified damages for the use of “paramilitary activities, personnel, tactics and equipment” while executing a search warrant at Ernst’s home.
Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns told The Register-Guard the police department has investigated and determined the search followed department policy and met national law enforcement standards.
The lawsuit alleges that a police officer used deceptive information about Ernst’s son, Jack Allen, to obtain court permission to serve the warrant with a SWAT team.
