Vermont man who gave state trooper the middle finger and was arrested to receive part of $175,000 settlement
CBSN
Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a crime for giving a state trooper the middle finger in 2018, the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday.
The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombard's First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018.
Trooper Jay Riggen stopped Bombard's vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he believed Bombard had shown him the middle finger, according to the lawsuit. Bombard denied making the gesture but was detained by Riggen for several minutes for questioning, according to the ACLU of Vermont. After the initial stop concluded, Bombard cursed and displayed the middle finger as he drove away.
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