By Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
A Fort Dodge couple is suing the city, alleging a police officer improperly entered their home and violated their civil rights.
Robert and Tamisha Benedict are suing the City of Fort Dodge and Officer Leighton Walker in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, alleging assault, trespassing, negligent hiring and supervision of city personnel, and civil rights violations related to an unreasonable search.
The couple alleges that Aug. 15, 2024, Walker was on duty and patrolling the city while Tamisha Benedict was at home with her two teenage sons and their friends – one of whom was Walker’s daughter.
Around 7 p.m., the lawsuit states, Tamisha Benedict had to leave the house to take one of the children to an event and communicated that fact to Ashley Utley, the mother of Walker’s child. She later gave her address to Utley so she could pick up her daughter.
According to the lawsuit, Walker then drove to the Benedict house and, while on duty, armed and in uniform, entered the home and conducted a complete search of the property.
“Walker eventually cornered the teenagers in the basement,” the lawsuit alleges,” and “battered his daughter and dragged her out of the house.”
The lawsuit alleges the Benedict children were “terrified” by the incident.
The lawsuit was originally filed late last year in Webster County District Court but was transferred recently to federal
court. The city has yet to file a response in either state or federal court.
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