Summons for obstruction issued for woman suing Churchill officer for civil rights violations
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Churchill police have charged a woman who last week filed a federal lawsuit over an encounter she had with an officer.
The charges against Rebecca Suits, 59, stem from the same September incident.
A summons was issued Monday against Suits by Churchill police Officer Stephen R. Shaulis. She is charged with misdemeanor obstruction charges, according to court records.
Suits’ attorney, Todd J. Hollis, declined to comment on the charge Wednesday.
Court records indicate the complaint was filed Oct. 21 — the same day Suits, her husband, and godmother held a press conference in Hollis’ Downtown office to detail what happened Sept. 23.
Suits went for a walk in her godmother’s Wikinsburg neighborhood and ended up in Churchill, where someone called 911 to report her as a suspicious person.
She was questioned by Shaulis, but refused to provide identification to him, she said, and he followed her to Wilkinsburg, handcuffed her and took her to the Churchill station. She said she was released because she needed to be treated for elevated blood pressure and claustrophobia.
Hollis filed a federal civil lawsuit against Shaulis and Churchill borough claiming civil rights violations.
The 11-count lawsuit claims Suits’ rights were violated during the incident as she was unlawfully detained, excessive force was used and Shaulis acted with negligence and recklessness.
Several Woodland Hills High School Students also sued Shaulis in 2017, contending he assaulted them when he was assigned to the school as a resource officer. Shaulis was removed from the school after video of the incidents surfaced, and the lawsuit against the officer and the district was settled for $500,000.
Hollis, who also represented the students, said he believes Shaulis should be removed from his position with the Churchill police department.
Shaulis didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.