CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing the city of Dunbar after she was arrested and claims she was mistreated.
On Dec. 11, 2007, Betty N. Ross was a passenger in a vehicle driven by her daughter when two police cruisers pulled the vehicle over, according to a complaint filed Dec. 11 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Ross claims after the police officers identified her, they ordered her out of the vehicle and handcuffed her. She claims when she asked what was happening they told her there was a warrant for her arrest for failure to appear at a hearing.
After Ross was placed in a holding cell, Judge Dana Hayes was notified, according to the suit.
Ross claims when her daughter told the judge she had the money for bail, he intentionally raised it to more than she had and then threatened he would send Ross to South Central Regional Jail.
Ross claims she was able to contact a friend who immediately brought the money for her bail and secured her release, but that Hayes was reluctant to accept the money and quizzed her friend.
According to the suit, Ross obtained legal counsel and attended her hearing in June 2008, where Hayes was not able to produce any documentation that a summons had ever been served to her.
Ross claims she was dealt with in a harsh and unusual manner, that her Miranda Rights were not read to her and that Hayes had attempted to make it impossible for her to make bail.
Ross is seeking compensatory damages.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 09-C-2278
Woman sues City of Dunbar after arrest
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