FAIRFIELD POLICE PROBE RACIAL PROFILING COMPLAINT

FAIRFIELD - A black Cincinnati couple claiming to be victims of
racial profiling has filed a complaint against a Fairfield police
officer, prompting an internal investigation.

Tony Betts told city council Tuesday night he and his wife were
humiliated after their sport utility vehicle was searched by a drug
dog on Dixie Highway

"My wife and I were derogated, embarrassed, humiliated and our most
basic civil liberties violated and treated as if we were common
criminals, drug (dealers), or narcotics distributors without
justification or cause," Betts said.

Police Chief Michael Dickey said the Fairfield Police Department is
conducting an internal investigation. He said the traffic stop was on
video and is being reviewed. Dickey did not say how long the
investigation would take. He would not comment further.

After missing their late night movie Friday, Tony and Andrea Betts
decided to drive around Fairfield to see if the community was a place
they wanted to move with their 3-year-old daughter since its school
district recently was rated excellent by the state, Tony Betts said.

However, he said an encounter with Fairfield police Sgt. Jeff Sprague
quickly changed their minds.

Betts was driving along Dixie Highway near Production Avenue when he
were pulled over at 11:25 p.m. by the officer for traveling 35 mph in
a 55 mph zone.

After reviewing Tony Betts' license and registration, he said Sprague
told him he would issue him a citation for an expired license plate.

Sprague went to his vehicle to what Betts had thought was to write
the ticket. When he returned, Sprague told the couple he believed
they were in Fairfield to buy or sell drugs and had called for a
drug-sniffing canine unit, Tony Betts said.