Nude Runner Alleges Assault by Penn State Police
A nude runner who participated in Penn State University's 2008 "Mifflin Streak" is suing the university because he claims that he was assaulted and injured by Penn State Police.
Centre Daily Times reports that Mr. Christopher Ferry has filed a lawsuit worth over $150,000 in damages because of injuries he sustained from Penn State Police while running in the "Mifflin Streak" in 2008.
The "Mifflin Streak" is an annual event held on the Sunday before spring semester finals where students from Penn State University run around nude or in their underwear.
When Mr. Ferry was running in the event, he claims that he was tackled by Penn State police. He claims that the officers did not identify themselves until after he had been tackled and roughly handcuffed. He alleges that he was dragged by the police.
When he felt pain, he asked to sit. Mr. Ferry was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center where doctors assessed that the young man had suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone from the ambush.
He claims that the officers used excessive force in apprehending him. His lawsuit lists
physical and emotional pain, medical expenses past and future, unlawful arrest, use of excessive force, civil conspiracy and municipal liability as causes of actions in his lawsuit against the University, the named officers, Penn State Police Chief Stephen Shelow, and ten other John and Jane Does.
Mr. Ferry was charged with open lewdness and resistance to arrest. However, those charges were later removed from his record. Mr. Ferry maintains that because the University allows the event to take place, then it must condone the event.
Related Resources:
- Police Misconduct and Civil Rights (Findlaw)
- What procedures must the police follow while making an arrest? (Findlaw)
- Don't Tase Me Bro: Boise Man Sues Over Excessive Shocks (Findlaw's Legally Weird)
- Common Personal Injury Case Questions (provided by Jacobs & Goodman, P.A.)
- Premises Security: Assault on Others' Property(provided by Orlow, Orlow & Orlow, P.C.)