Md. Police Settle With Abortion Protesters
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland State Police will pay $385,000 to nine anti-abortion protesters arrested in Harford County nearly four years ago.
The Board of Public Works approved the settlement payment on Wednesday.
Protesters claim police mistreated them in Bel Air in 2008.
Police said motorists complained about their graphic posters, and protesters were arrested when they failed to follow orders to leave the county. Charges were dropped soon after the arrests.
A lawsuit filed in federal court against Harford County, Bel Air and several police agencies on behalf of the protesters claimed that officers handcuffed 18 demonstrators without giving a reason for their arrests and three women were strip searched twice.
Harford County settled with the group in 2010 but hasn't released details of the settlement.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
