The Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said on Wednesday that the state has agreed to pay $175,000 to resolve a complaint filed on behalf of a man who was accused of committing a crime in 2018 after he gave a state trooper the finger.
The ACLU of Vermont brought the action in 2021 on Gregory Bombard’s behalf, a resident of St. Albans. It claims that following an unwarranted traffic stop and a reprisal arrest in 2018, Bombard’s First Amendment rights were infringed.
According to the lawsuit, Trooper Jay Riggen pulled over Bombard’s car in St. Albans on February 9, 2018, thinking Bombard had given him the finger. Bombard refuted it, but he claims that when the original halt was over, he did swear and give the finger.
Bombard’s automobile was towed when he was stopped once again and taken into custody on a disorderly conduct allegation. The ACLU claims that he was detained for more than an hour and given a criminal court citation. In the end, the accusation was dropped.
The state agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 as well as $75,000 to cover legal bills for the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, as per the settlement struck by the parties this month.
Read Also: CDC Issues Urgent Alert on Dengue Fever Outbreak in U.S.
“While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place,” Hillary Rich, staff attorney for the ACLU of Vermont stated. “Police need to respect everyone’s First Amendment rights — even for things they consider offensive or insulting.”
Regarding the settlement, there was no statement from the Vermont State Police.
In a statement made available by the ACLU, Bombard expressed his expectation that troopers from the Vermont State Police will receive training “to avoid silencing criticism or making baseless car stops.”
