CARSON CITY MAN FILES SUIT AFTER ARREST

CARSON CITY -- A man who is accused of fighting with officers when they
arrested him on a number of drug charges is suing them, claiming they
violated his rights by roughing him up.

In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Reno, John Longshore alleges
the multijurisdictional task force violated his constitutional rights.

It names Sheriffs Ron Pierini of Douglas County, Rod Banister of Carson City
and Sid Smith of Lyon County.

Longshore, 42, was arrested April 30, 1997, on charges of possession of
marijuana and methamphetamine at his Carson City home, trafficking and
battery on a peace officer. He claims the officers did not have a search
warrant or probable cause to search the residence.

When the officers asked permission to search the premises, he turned them
down and was going back inside when one officer grabbed him by the arm and
another splashed him with pepper spray, Longshore said. Longshore was taken
to Carson City jail, where he was held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

In December 1997, Carson City District Judge Michael Fondi ordered the
evidence suppressed and Longshore released, according to the lawsuit.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett