Arrested, Held Incommunicado, Oregon Man Sues
by Edward B. Lyon
John Haga of Florence, Oregon was arrested based on a probable cause statement--not a warrant--on January 14, 2000. The offense was a misdemeanor assault. A complainant and a witness told a state police officer, who otherwise had no personal knowledge of the alleged assault.
Haga was held incommunicado without being arraigned for five days before being allowed to call a lawyer on January 18. Haga's lawyer had him released on bond the following day. During the five days he was held without being allowed to make a phobne call, Haga's son and his neighbor made calls to the jail, only to be told that he was not there.
Haga was tried and acquitted of the alleged assault on August 11. Lawyer Marianne Dugan of Eugene/ Oregon is prosecuting a 42 USC § 1983 action on Haga's behalf in the Oregon United States District Court against the city of Florence, Douglas and Lane counties, Oregon state police, officer Christine George, and 12 John Doe defendants.
Source: Marianne Dugan, attorney-at-law, 485 E. 13th Ave., Eugene, Oregon 97401
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