Two ladies in Alabama have filed a lawsuit in federal court docket, alleging authorities arresting them for caring for stray cats, experiences The Miami Herald. As per the lawsuit, Beverly Roberts and Mary Alston had been accused of trespassing after they tried to entice a cat as a way to have them spayed again in June 2022. The ladies had been later charged with a misdemeanor within the subsequent prison prosecution that passed off in Wetumpka Municipal Court docket.
Lawsuit claims ladies who took care of stray cats had been ‘violently’ handcuffed
The lawsuit claims the ladies had been “violently” handcuffed by officers. The ladies are recognized to trap and neuter feral cats throughout the town. The day they had been arrested, Alston had arrange a entice for a cat on Hill Road. She was ready in her automotive when she noticed Mayor Jerry Willis drive by.
After some time, extra officers arrived on the scene. One of many officers instructed her they acquired a criticism that somebody had been feeding felines within the space and requested her to go away the premises.
The officers then left the scene. Nonetheless, once they returned, they noticed her with Roberts on the identical place. Subsequently, they went on to arrest them.
Video reveals animal rescuers being arrested
“Alright Ms. Roberts … apparently they’ve had a difficulty with you out right here earlier than with the cats,” an officer stated in a video printed by AL.com.
Upon additional questioning, Roberts stated, “Effectively I feed them, we’ve been attempting to entice them.” Roberts additional added, “And we get them neutered after which get them properties. So we’re attempting to do the town a favor.”
Nonetheless, the officer stated the town had requested her “a number of instances not to do that” and proceeded to arrest her. When Alston tried to intervene, they detained her as nicely.
In response to the ladies, they didn’t trespass and had been on non-public property on the time. They declare their arrests had been ordered by Willis and that Chief of Police Greg Benton and Assistant Chief of Police Ed Reeves merely acted on his orders.
The lawsuit says the officers had earlier taken difficulty with the ladies complaining in regards to the metropolis’s alleged lack of stringent animal rights legal guidelines. At the moment, the ladies are presently searching for a trial by jury. In the meantime, the defendants have been summoned, and they’re as a consequence of reply on Feb. 15.
