Loveland Settles Over 'Pot Smell' Traffic Stop
LOVELAND, Colo. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado says the city of Loveland has agreed to a $35,000 settlement regarding a traffic stop in 2011.
Loveland police said Thursday that they are settling to save taxpayers the expense of litigation.
The ACLU of Colorado says David Kramer of Johnstown was handcuffed for more than an hour and was searched on July 4, 2011, after an officer said he smelled marijuana. No marijuana was found. The ACLU contends there wasn't probable cause to search Kramer, his wallet or his vehicle and that Kramer's Fourth Amendment right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure was violated.
Police say an internal review found policy violations that were corrected, before the ACLU took up Kramer's case.
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