Vermont man receives $175K settlement after arrest over giving officer the middle finger

A $175,000 settlement has been reached over a Vermont driver who said he was arrested after giving a police officer the middle finger. WPTZ' Sid Bewlay reports.
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#Vermont #Crime #Viral

[@seashackf1]

2018.… so even with dash cam footage of it, it still took 6 years for a 1st Amendment violation to get to a settlement. I wonder which side kept stalling.

[@ghostwalk2446]

The victim's of course, you're not going to get $175k without proving some serious PTSD, which involves years of therapy I'm sure

[@Milk-rn5uq]

@@ghostwalk2446how slow are you..? he got paid because his 1st amendment rights were violated. not because of PTSD. You are so clueless 😂😂😂

[@ghostwalk2446]

@@Milk-rn5uq Lol adult here kiddo, I don't do childish insult battles

[@popmike6118]

@@ghostwalk2446you indeed are clueless, kiddo.

[@-in-the-meantime...]

Its probably public record, one of you wise guys go find out!

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

2018? that cam looks like its from 1998.....kind of nostalgic really

[@MeepMeep88]

Holy crap, 6 years to get this settled.

[@susannpatton2893]

They were hoping the guy would run out of money and drop the charges. Nah dog, I want my right to a speedy trial. Stop this stall tactics by those with disposable tax payer funded incomes

[@baruchben-david4196]

@@susannpatton2893 I don't think the right to a speedy trial includes civil cases; just criminal.

[@rhondainman7464]

Giving the finger is protected under your First Amendment right to freedom of speech, and you can't be arrested for it. If a police officer violates your rights after you give them the middle finger, you can file a lawsuit against the cop in question.😮

[@juancana457]

Agreed, yet I'd suggest directing your lawsuit towards the state that the incident occurred to take advantage of those deep pockets also.

[@ghostwalk2446]

Yeah we watched the video as well lol

[@user-xh8iv6xj8r]

@@ghostwalk2446captain obvious over here. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@user-xh8iv6xj8r]

@@juancana457uhhhh perhaps you aren’t paying attention. THE STATE OF VERMONT PAID THE SETTLEMENT.

[@reddeadjuju]

​@@user-xh8iv6xj8r😂😂😂😂😂 💯

[@diddyxl]

They are a power hungry. Name the officer.

[@z3roninja565]

Watch the video, they did. 0:24

[@small-town-southern-man3573]

JAY RIGGEN. Must have been picked on a lot as a kid. Got him a badge and wants folks to respect him!😂😂😂

[@Typical.Anomaly]

END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY! MAKE THEM PAY, NOT THE TAXPAYERS!

[@danielchilton5400]

Umm…they did pay. Did you not watch the video?

[@Typical.Anomaly]

@@danielchilton5400 "They" = taxpayers, in this case. It should come out of the negligent cop's pocket.

[@ganbramor]

@@danielchilton5400lol, derp dude, he’s saying the settlement money should come from the cop, not the taxpayers. When a citizen wins a case, we are basically paying ourselves.

[@patcline6972]

I bet if cops were made to carry liability insurance they act a little different

[@Rowels_Darling]

It might just have to come down to that. As an insurance salesman, I had to have "Errors and Ommissions" insurance. What a crock. Insurance to sell insurance.

[@baruchben-david4196]

Ya know, that really sounds like a good idea...

[@crypticnomad]

I've always thought they should be required to carry basic liability insurance that would cover things like this. If an officer can't get the insurance or the premiums are too high then they almost certainly shouldn't be a cop. Just like how if I'm a contractor and can't get anyone to insure me then I probably shouldn't be a contractor. The actuaries at the insurance companies are like math jedis and might actually be able to solve the underlying problem with money. Doctors have insurance, contractors of just about every kind, and just about every other type of regular businesses in general. As the other commenter said, even insurance salesmen have to have insurance. Why not law enforcement as well?

[@presidentcamacho]

Take a percentage from the cop's pension.

[@Zionryan1]

If only ….some are responsible for millions of our tax paying dollars

[@Rowels_Darling]

BINGO!

[@alexm8922]

Let's not forget that the prosecutor tried to charge him for impeding traffic. The charge was dismissed after the judge viewed the VSP Dashcam.

[@bpxl53yewz29]

She’s right- the law doesn’t just protect speech that they like

[@Lewis_T]

It’s too bad it doesn’t not protect copsplaining. I’m sure they’ve made plenty arrests when they can’t copsplain sufficiently too.

[@EhCloserLook]

Lol, just ONE nice dinner with that kind of payout??? How fancy of a place is he taking his mom to?

[@seashackf1]

Lawyer probably took half and then taxes. He’ll probably get about $50k out of it. That’s about what a meal at McDonalds costs today.

[@deiterp3912]

@@seashackf1Assuming this lawyer was paid on a contingency and not through fees, it would be 33%. 33% is the standard. After taxes the victim received about 97k

[@ghostwalk2446]

​@@deiterp3912So almost 2 McDonald's meals! Lol

[@Reno_Slim]

​@@seashackf1 The plaintiff got $100,000 and the lawyers got the rest.

[@baruchben-david4196]

@@seashackf1 Not sure of the jurisdiction, but in many cases an attorney gets nothing if they lose, and 1/3 + expenses if they win.

[@caseyziegler1211]

Im about to flip off the first officer i see

[@unknownplayer23]

🐦.. .... 👮🏻‍♂️ 🚓

[@dr9gonkid20]

This is what's wrong with society

[@terransunited]

Yeah freedom of speech! Dallen Theodore Miller of the US national guard talking about molesting his daughter is free speech!

[@moonshoes11]

Cops.

[@SeattleSandro]

@@moonshoes11 Even worse, cops who don't understand our 1st Amendment protections. Guess what, cops are agents of the government, so you can give them the finger and that is protected speech or expression. By arresting this man for his protected speech, they violated his constitutional right to free speech and they owe him.

[@JAYSONGS]

THIS is what’s wrong? It certainly figures in, but definitely not the sole issue. People’s apparent need to control AND disrespect/disregard others rights, boundaries, etc. is, perhaps, closer to the core of this case and what amounts to the breakdown of “civilization” (as idealized).

[@ghostwalk2446]

Lol no, society has waaay bigger issues than this

[@melanatedone4894]

Got to love a Happy ending. You have respect Law Enforcement but this is Power Tripping

[@adamhuffman3354]

Wow 😯! 175,000.00 for a 🐦 bird! Lots of folks will be doing that.

[@Run1289]

Police need to understand they are not above the law, if anything they are beneath the law!!!!! The police are public servants!!!!! Police serve us the public!!!!!

[@Lewis_T]

As far as we know

[@Rowels_Darling]

ONLY ONE Exclamation mark or THREE. NEVER TWO or Four or more. If you need to emphasize it more than what one punctuation mark can accomplish, use three. Two looks like an error and any more than three looks rediculous. If you can't do it with three, what can 5 do for you?

[@koshnaranek2317]

​@@Rowels_DarlingIt was rapid fire succession some keyboards are sooo sensitive.😁

[@jonncockrell3606]

Supreme court said otherwise.

[@Rowels_Darling]

@@koshnaranek2317 Proofing and editing are still free.

[@-in-the-meantime...]

Friendly reminder the American flag is Red, White, and Blue... not Black and Blue.

[@777Skeptic]

But I peaked in high school and the black/blue flag gives me a sense of belonging.

[@atomjack94]

The black and blue just reminds an officer of how they left their wife's face after a long day at work.

[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

The integrity of officer conduct hasn't changed. The documentation of it has.

[@juancana457]

Wholly disagree. If that was the case, what accounts for the rise in complaints? In contrast, many people are less intimidated by the law enforcement when appropriate judgements are reached. Law enforcement professionals invalidate their authority when acting extrajudicially.

[@NoManClatuer-pd8ck]

@@juancana457 I'm saying it hasn't improved. Quite to the contrary. The amount of cases being reported has improved yet I'm skeptical that is improving civil rights.

[@Rowels_Darling]

ANDY TAYLOR WOULD NEVER HAVE ACTED THAT WAY. Barney, maybe, but not Andy.

[@juancana457]

@Rowels_Darling What about Sgt. Friday, of Dragnet, and McGarret of Hawaii 5-0?

[@davidmcguerty8405]

The other 100 people that did this are dead. Vest cam wasn't on and officer 'feared for his life'. Case closed.

[@DarkHype936]

who are the other 100 people that gave the cops the finger and are dead now?

[@serena9543]

I wan those day back

[@lucycan6363]

​@@DarkHype936 We'll never know because the dead tell no tales!

[@menkros1]

You made this up

[@4catsnow]

So does that now mean the tax on a bottle of maple syrup increases??

[@lionsteinberg]

Protect democracy ❤

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

Giving the finger is the best tool we have to see if we're dealing with a, "peace officer," or an, "ego driven tyrant."

[@2ry1n]

I can't believe someone is wearing a law enforcement uniform and doesn't understand the 1st amendment..

[@krackerjack1233]

To bad the taxpayers had to foot the bill

[@danielmarshall2453]

Too bad taxpayers are footing the bill for this cops bad judgment you mean? He retired a month before the settlement. That means we are paying for a bad cop to live out his years comfortably for overstepping the law,that's the real tragedy, criminals pay fines and go to jail. Abusive cops get paid out and we pay for it.

[@Reno_Slim]

More people need to pick up this easy money.

[@United-States-of-Africa]

I fully agree with this settlement here in Africa we have no freedom no rights a police will scam you they will do everything and you cannot tell them anything it's just pure corruption thank you America Constitution people's rights human rights thank you America

[@WessyD123]

The supreme court ruled sometime ago that flipping someone off is protected under the 1st amendment. Surprising that every officer doesn't already know this...

[@baruchben-david4196]

I don't think some of them care...

[@anzalone138]

Note to self next time I see a state trooper flip him off for settlement!

[@Rowels_Darling]

And then go to McDonalds to spill hot coffee in your lap.

[@MsTheJohnsons]

Or sue your spouse's side chic/dude!

[@Rowels_Darling]

@@MsTheJohnsons ? ? ? Makes no sense!

[@MsTheJohnsons]

@@Rowels_Darling Stupid lawsuits with big payouts

[@Rowels_Darling]

@@MsTheJohnsons It wasn't a payout. It was a settlement. Both sides agreed on an amount to end the lawsuit. The man was harassed, wrongly arrested and wrongly charged. He had to fight for his rights for 6 years. I'll bet that cost a pretty penny. And you think it was frivolous? Just wait till something happens to you that is unjust.

[@user-dw1ls3rp1l]

Cop needs a new career. Policing on ego is not how it works.

[@clcnj5365]

175000 and all he’s doing is treating his mom to dinner? Disgusting.

[@wadedavid4375]

It’s all about their Fragile Egos!

[@thegreyhoundgirls536]

He shouldn’t be an officer if he can’t handle being flipped the bird. What an insecure coward. Turn in your badge officer. You can’t handle being an officer

[@sammienochez8497]

Thin blue line gang members hate the 1st Amendment 📝

[@baruchben-david4196]

Also the Fifth and Sixth Amendments.

[@jbmorris2893]

I just saw the Audit the Audit video on this a couple days ago. Looks like their analysis was accurate on this one… cop is costing his city some serious dollars.

[@jonncockrell3606]

Officials need to respect the rights of citizens not just be aware of them

[@dr9gonkid20]

Well if we're giving away free money I might as well get some

[@seashackf1]

How was it free? He got arrested, booked in jail and had to fight it in court for 6 years. Freedom ain’t free.

[@Juann-ci5vh]

" I'm not gonna argue with you" Do as i say and you can complain abt it later.

[@stephenlesliebrown5959]

I get annoyed all the time. I want some money. What's the phone number of the ACLU?

[@elisamartinelli7676]

He was arrested without any cause in the first place. Come on really, this man wasn't given a ticket he was processed into the system for no reason, how do you not see what emotional distress that can have on someone.

[@atomjack94]

Part of the settlement should be that the cop has to wear a nametag referring to himself as Officer Oink Oink for the rest of his career

[@jamesrichardson63]

And they won’t learn anything from this. Zero.

[@tomhenry897]

Only took 6 years for justice

[@michaelccopelandsr7120]

To ALL "peace officers" ~ You want your respect back? THEN EARN OUR TRUST BACK! Simple as that. Here's a tip that will help... As long as you fear integrity and accountability, you are NOT the good guys.

[@Just-Human]

Lawyers will get most of it.

[@hectorcamacho4535]

Actually, he should have sued with $1B.

[@Mike-zk7rh]

state of vermont? should come out of the cops pension

[@JosephBocchino-xs9hs]

Should be Sue Private wright we're it hurts in Trooper pockets no better than anyone else.

[@hugowilliams1988]

Nice to know that.

[@duvine3882]

If service employees are violently verbally & emotionally attacked by costumers for sakes of "costumer is always right" then flip bird is ok.

[@sonrichard76]

Little baby police officers feeling was hurt, call the wah wah police instead.

[@sunnydelight5255]

If some of you got flipped off there would be carnage so let’s stop. Many people in the cemetery are there for doing less in road rage incidents.

[@jackgraves5121]

I've been flipped and it didn't result in carnage. Speak for yourself.

[@sunnydelight5255]

@@jackgraves5121Ok that’s rare and good 👍

[@sunnydelight5255]

If some of you got the bird there would be carnage so let’s stop. Many people in the cemetery are there for doing less in road rage incidents.

[@cesarcueto1995]

I agree. Some people have no self control

[@jackgraves5121]

❄️❄️❄️

[@sunnydelight5255]

@@jackgraves5121Hard as snow yes lol 💪

[@Kokuraman]

I would never do that, man!

[@basketballspinner]

sure

[@vincekane7298]

God Bless America America NEEDS Gods Blessing

[@robtarqs4647]

Good

[@user-ip9ue4bo8n]

You got 💵👍🏿

[@howardj602]

There are over 24000 names inscribed on National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. You're giving them the bird to.. Feel proud.

[@jackgraves5121]

❄️❄️❄️

[@JAYSONGS]

Taking mom out for a nice dinner. Good son. And congrats on instituting some apparent ‘latent’ understanding of constitutional rights. Enough of the power tripping, Civil Servants. Do the gig whilst retaining your own civility. Also~ maybe ‘brush up’ on the constitution. It’s not a tome, rather a short read at (originally) four pages. That would behoove us all to do, as well as be mutually beneficial for our society.

[@koshnaranek2317]

Cop should have just given him the peace sign back. Whats the guy gonna do road rage back at him for trying to inject a little humor.

[@Balletcalvero]

When I was in my 20s I asked a cop who pulled me over if he had more than 2 brain cells. I'm white so nothing happened to me. My loud mouth could've gotten me in huge trouble

[@user-xs5bl9dy6d]

It's hilarious how some people who wear a badge. Believe they should be respected like some world leader. No buddy you're a cop, a public servant that city taxes ensure. You have a job so turn that ego down to a normal 5/10 😂

[@gathrightcrystal]

What's the settlement for being called a Russian hoax for a global music club tour 😎🥃

[@IamME-h5w]

These thin skinned cops need to take a deep breath and think about the Constitution. _(if they even know it)_ Costing the city hundreds of thousand of dollars isn't too good for job security.

[@WinstonBartholomewIII]

The lesson is don't be a snowflake.

[@justint4069]

And pull people over for no reason?

[@juancana457]

They're police officers, not stormtroopers. Jefferson included freedom of speech in the FIRST amendment consciously, not the second, because democracy demands speech without fear of intimidation by the authorities. This authoritarian predilection among law enforcement professionals needs to protected against previous to enrollment into the educational program, not after such fascist behavior.

[@JAYSONGS]

Thank you for this vital clarification ~ and factual statement of truth

[@juancana457]

@@JAYSONGS The law enforcement individual, in question, seems emotionally unsuited for the profession. Further his transgressions indicate a likelihood for future, costly court battles.

[@ericaheffington3404]

Jackpot lol

[@susannpatton2893]

Ha!

[@savannahcastillo7858]

The land of the uneducated and lost.

[@TojiFushigoroWasTaken]

the freedom to sue anyone (except ofc the ones you cant) is the only thing keeping this country together 😂

[@JAYSONGS]

This is us (we?) 🙃

[@thomaslavin3640]

Wow that's crazy lol..😂😂. But don't they say in Vermont Live Free or die ??¿??😅😅😅

[@JAYSONGS]

New Hampshire, I think. "Freedom and Unity" is the state motto of Vermont ~ ironically

[@bumpkinreverie8448]

A thin-skinned snowflake cop enforcing his ego instead of the law and abusing a citizen's rights. A common problem with policing.

[@sunnydelight5255]

If some of you got flipped off there would be carnage so let’s stop. Many people in the cemetery are there for doing less in road rage incidents.

[@Rowels_Darling]

Cops are supposed to have a better coping mechanism. He probably needs to have another psych eval to see if he's still suitable for the position.

[@bumpkinreverie8448]

@@Rowels_Darling He already showed that he is not suitable for the position.

[@Rowels_Darling]

@@bumpkinreverie8448 Yup, you and I and half the country know that, but if they keep him on the force, I'd be a staunch supporter of recertificatiion and even back to the acadamy if necessary. But after paying out 175 thousand, I doubt they'd elect to keep him, he's a liability.

[@ChadBray]

After paying his attorney all he has left is enough money to take his mom out to a nice dinner.

[@cesarcueto1995]

Ya..doesn't seem worth the trouble except for proving a point.

[@juancana457]

@ChadBray I'll 'bet the farm' contingency fee consumed 40%, expert testimony another 20%, and misc costs 10%. Remaining 30% × $175,000 = $52,500, before taxes.

[@connor_flanigan]

he got $100,000. the lawyers got $75,000. he should have gotten $1,000,000.

[@v.a.993]

No racist comments about he won the "ghetto lottery," huh?

[@PeterRabbitWhatsup]

Unlike the " Ghettopeople " he didn't commit a crime. Good try

[@justju0rd]

@@PeterRabbitWhatsup there’s no good try. Keep doing that im white and i say so. your whataboutisms never works out.

[@artsleuth193]

He can pay his attorney fee and take his mom to McDonalds. Lawyers win..taxpayers lose. 😮

[@user-er3ri6sc3j]

This is obscenity laws violation.

[@cesarcueto1995]

What is?

[@user-er3ri6sc3j]

@@cesarcueto1995 A middle finger gesture towards law enforcement. It indicates an erect male organ in a suggestive manner .

[@jackgraves5121]

Doubt it

[@jagaloon216]

No I don't think giving a cop the finger and swearing at him(read the full story) is ok. He should not have got a payout and certainly not such a ridiculous amount.

[@-in-the-meantime...]

Friendly reminder the American flag is Red, White, and Blue... not Black and Blue.

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

You sound like a fascist. Or a cop

[@Lewis_T]

@@-in-the-meantime...I back the blue, red and white……but not the queens blue.

[@bulldog71ss33]

You would have made an excellent Redcoat

[@cherribenzin8289]

This amount is ridiculous! A smaller settlement would have been appropriate.

[@justint4069]

He waited 6 years for his payout how much money do think they have paid the cop in salary ?

[@rooster1012]

No it should have been much more and the officer should have been fired, if you make violating the most sacred legal document the world has ever seen and which all other countries looked to when they became democracies trivial then they will strip us of our rights as they please.

[@seashackf1]

What’s ridiculous is, in 2018, violating the 1st Amendment of the constitution that they swore to up hold. They should have known better, especially with a dash cam recording it.

[@delta_glider4362]

@@rooster1012 >most sacred legal document the world has ever seen Ktulhu's Bible?

[@SeattleSandro]

Violating a constitutional right is a big deal and should have a big settlement attached to it.

[@serena9543]

He should have been arrested

[@bulldog71ss33]

You don't like freedom of speech? Move to Russia.

[@777Skeptic]

The cop for false imprisonment and kidnapping? I agree.

[@rexleidig3412]

Ftp

[@user-ul5ev2uu2n]

Гуфиниякта гадраст...

[@user-ul5ev2uu2n]

Лартака сток бунданка рок 👍 фияркута бонза бугазотка фиюрка тутка сияние бухта..