Cry havoc, and unleash the lawyers of war!

The number of lawsuits filed stemming from the K-Mart Kiddie Roundup case is up to three, with many more likely to follow.

In their suit, Brandi Ratliff, 18, and William Ryan Grenwelge, 20, claim false imprisonment and blame the city of Houston, the police chief and other officers in charge of the scene. Their suit, filed in state district court, does not specify a monetary amount.

[...]

Ratliff and Grenwelge said they were en route to a friend's house Aug. 17 when they stopped at the Kmart in the 8400 block of Westheimer to buy drinks and use the telephone. As they were leaving the store's parking lot, police yelled at them and at least one pointed a gun in their faces, Ratliff said.

Police also told them they were not being arrested at that time, she said, but hours later she was put in a cell with several other women, including those accused of murder and prostitution.

The incident left her "traumatized for life," she said.

"I used to look at cops as protecting us and not arresting innocent people," Ratliff said.

Mmm. I don't have any qualms with the lawsuits, but even I think that "traumatized for life" is a tad bit over the top. I wouldn't want to spend the night in lockup, either, but if that's the worst thing that ever happens to you, you've led a pretty good life.

Meanwhile, Kevin has a modest proposal for dealing with the dirty drag-racing kids that the cops were supposedly going after in the first place.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on September 25, 2002 to K-Mart Kiddie Roundup