WBRZ's Brett Buffington sues BRPD

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A local television reporter who claims he was strip-searched and later forced to watch a prison rape video after being accused last year of interfering with an officer and intimidating a public official filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Baton Rouge Police Department and one of its officers.

WBRZ-TV’s Brett Buffington contends he was “humiliated and intimidated” by Officer Clifton Crouch’s actions on May 29, and he’s seeking damages for alleged violations of his First Amendment rights and for an allegedly unreasonable seizure, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and defamation.

Even though the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office decided not to prosecute Buffington on the misdemeanor and felony counts on which he was booked, the reporter says the damage is done.

“Buffington’s ability to perform his duties as an investigative reporter has been seriously hindered. He can no longer effectively work with the Baton Rouge Police due to his fear of unlawful arrest,” Buffington’s attorneys, Amy Newsom and Franz Borghardt, state in the suit filed in Baton Rouge federal court and assigned to U.S. District Judge James Brady.

The lawyers argue Buffington will never be able to apply for another job without having to explain why he was arrested on a felony charge while carrying out his duties as a reporter.

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