Plaintiffs drop civil rights suit against sheriff’s office in carpet cleaner case

During an August 2023 traffic stop, Portage County Sheriff’s Office deputies mistook carpet cleaner in the back of a Buick for cocaine and arrested two men in the vehicle. Photo by the Portage County Sheriff’s Office

Plaintiffs drop civil rights suit against sheriff’s office in carpet cleaner case

- Wendy DiAlesandro

An August 2023 traffic stop landed two Ravenna men in jail on felony drug charges. The charges were eventually dropped when the alleged cocaine in the car they had occupied turned out to be carpet cleaner, and the two men filed suit in federal court, claiming Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski and three deputies violated their civil rights.

Through their attorney, Eddie Sipplen, plaintiffs Zephaniah Robinson and Jack Metcalf, though, voluntarily petitioned the court on March 24 to dismiss their lawsuit. Receiving no objection from the defendants, the court agreed to do so on March 28.

Join our community of supporters to access this article

Articles older than 30 days are available to Portager subscribers with a Plus or Premium plan. Subscriptions start at just $1/month.

Already a paid subscriber? Log in here

Plus

Get more from your email newsletter.

$1+ /month

View subscription options
  • Email newsletter delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday
  • Full access to The Portager website
  • Participate in the community forum
  • Access articles older than 30 days
  • Read the publisher's comments in the email newsletter
  • List of real estate transactions
  • Local comic strip, Headwater Tales
  • Donate one free ad per year to a local business or charity
  • Print newspaper home delivery via USPS
  • Sudokus and crosswords
  • 20% off everything in The Portager shop