The state of Vermont agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit filed after a man was charged with a crime for raising his middle finger at a state trooper, the ACLU said.
ACLU Vermont accused state trooper Jay Riggen of subjecting Gregory Bombard to an 'unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest' that violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Police need to respect everyone's First Amendment rights - even for things they consider offensive or insulting, according to Hillary Rich, an attorney for ACLU Vermont.
Bombard was jailed and held for over an hour and his car was towed, facing criminal proceedings before the charge was eventually dismissed.
A court dismissed a second charge of disorderly conduct filed against Bombard for 'recklessly creating a risk of public annoyance' during the traffic stop incident.
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