Ex- Wife Of Cotton Plant Chief Awarded $60K In Civil Rights Suit
June 29, 2007 04:08 PM
LITTLE ROCK - A federal jury awarded the ex-wife of the Cotton Plant police chief 60-thousand dollars in civil rights lawsuit. Florence Nance alleged her husband -- who was the chief -- ordered an officer to arrest her when she confronted a woman who allegedly had an affair with her husband. The jury in Little Rock found yesterday that Florence Nance's civil rights had been violated by both Police Chief Archie Roark and Raymond Milton, who was then a noncertified auxiliary officer and the only other person on the police force.
The 56-year-old Nance testified that she learned on January 12th, 2005, that her husband of 12 years, who was also a church pastor, was having an affair with another woman. Nance admittedly flew and drove from her home in DeValls Bluff to Cotton Plant to confront the other woman at the woman's mother's house. While there, Nance testified that Milton pepper-sprayed her in the eyes, threw her to ground face first and twisted her arm behind her, then handcuffed her and placed her in the patrol car. She was later released, and was not charged.
Roark testified that he didn't call Milton and that he later learned Milton had responded to a 9-1-1 call. Roark suggested that his wife was out of control, leaving Milton no choice but to use force. Milton, who has left the department and whose whereabouts were unknown, did not attend the trial.
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