Arabic
Spanish
I found this story on Scott.net about an innocent woman, Hope Steffey, who called the police after being involved in a fight and was hurt. She ended up being forcibly strip searched by both male and female police officers and was locked up, naked, in a cell. To stay warm, she wrapped herself in toilet paper. She remained in the cell for six hours.
Asked to describe her experience, Hope replied it was like being raped without penetration. Below is the video (in 2 parts) which documents Hope’s experience at the hands of the Stark County Sheriff’s Dept. The video is graphic (you’ve been warned!!) and really makes you stop and think; this could happen to anyone: It could happen to you, to your mother, to your sister, to your friend or even to your wife.
A civil rights lawsuit was filed on behalf of Hope Steffey in the Akron office of the Ohio Northern District Court. Judge David D. Dowd Jr. will hear the case.
Named as defendants are Stark County Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson; Stark County commissioners Todd Bosley, Tom Harmon and Jane Vignos; and Stark County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard T. Gurlea Jr. In addition, one to 15 other “John and Jane Does” (deputies, jail employees, staff and other persons) who “acted willfully, wantonly and recklessly and whose names and addresses are undiscoverable at this time” are also defendants.
For more about Hope Steffey’s case click here and here
