Emily Good files notice to sue city
Rochester resident Emily Good has filed a notice that she plans to sue the city because of her arrest while videotaping police during a May traffic stop.
Her attorney, Donald Thompson, filed the notice Tuesday.
The legal filing is a typical precursor to a lawsuit. In the papers, Good contends that she “was wrongfully charged, arrested, and imprisoned” on obstruction of governmental administration charges on May 12. Using her cellphone, she video-recorded police during a traffic stop in front of her home.
An officer, claiming Good was endangering police during the stop, arrested her. Prosecutors later had the charges dismissed because of a lack of evidence.
The city declined to comment on the case.
“Since this is the subject of an ongoing internal investigation, we really cannot comment on the matter,” said city spokesman Gary Walker. “And … we do not discuss pending litigation.”
The incident drew national attention and was featured on CNN. The recording of Good’s arrest went viral on YouTube.
The legal papers also highlight a June 23 incident when police ticketed cars outside a meeting of Good supporters on Clarissa Street. The actions were retaliatory, the papers contend.
Police Chief James Sheppard has said an internal investigation is underway into Good’s arrest and the ticketing.
Good has suffered from emotional pain and suffering, the legal notice states.
“The real goal is improvement of police procedures and community relations,” Thompson said. “Unfortunately, a civil action only allows us to demand money damages, not specific performance of other remedies.”
Because the internal police investigations are not public — nor typically are the results — public legal action was needed to ensure a public response, Thompson said.
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