PORTLAND — The defense attorney representing the City of Rockland and former members of the police department in a lawsuit that was filed in federal court by an 81-year-old Vinalhaven woman claiming police used excessive force has been granted an extension to respond to allegations.  

The lawsuit was filed March 4 in U.S. District Court in Portland on behalf of Glennis K. Lane. She is represented by Attorney Gregory Snow, of Rockland.

Named as defendants in the lawsuit are the City of Rockland, City Manager Tom Luttrell, former Officer Michael Rolerson, former Police Chief Christopher Young, and two unidentified police officers.

The attorney for the defendants is John J. Wall, of Portland.

The defendants filed a motion, which was unopposed by the plaintiff, on March 29 “to enlarge time to respond to the complaint.”

The original dates for the defendants to respond to the allegations were from March 31 to April 5; the single deadline for the responses is now April 19.

According to the lawsuit, on the evening of May 21, 2020, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Lane went to the Fieldcrest apartment complex on Rankin Street to visit her sons who were staying there.

When Lane entered the private driveway into the complex, she noticed that a truck owned by one of her sons was parked on the grass adjacent to the driveway off Rankin Street, approximately 100 yards away from the lot where her son normally parked his vehicle with the other residents.

Lane said she saw that a police vehicle was parked behind her son’s vehicle with then officer Rolerson sitting in the driver’s seat of the cruiser. She parked her vehicle in front of her son’s vehicle and approached the officer and identified herself as the mother of the truck’s owner and said that she was familiar with its operation, the lawsuit states.

Rolerson informed her that her son had been arrested for operating without a license and taken to the Knox County Jail. The officer also told Lane that her son’s car was going to be towed and then impounded.

The lawsuit claims it is department policy at the Rockland Police Department that when a vehicle driven by a suspect taken into custody is parked legally and safely, as in the situation with Lane, the driver is to be given the option of locking the vehicle and leaving it there or requesting that it be towed by a towing company of the suspect’s choice. Neither choice was allegedly offered to Lane’s son by Rolerson.

Lane, who did not want her son’s truck to be towed, said she informed Rolerson that she would transport the vehicle to a parking place inside the Fieldcrest apartment complex.

At no point did Rolerson make an attempt to call off the towing company by contacting them, the suit said.

The officer stated to the woman, “You are not taking the truck,” according to the suit.

Lane said she continued to explain that she was fine to drive and could transport the truck to a parking spot within the Fieldcrest apartment complex. She then attempted to enter her son’s truck and began to step onto the running board to enter the truck on the driver’s side, according to the lawsuit.

Lane said Rolerson grabbed her, gripping both of her arms.

“Defendant Rolerson then proceeded to batter, manhandle, and otherwise use unnecessary force towards Ms. Lane, causing multiple visual injuries and bruises. Defendant Rolerson then placed the Plaintiff in handcuffs that were excessively tightened and placed Plaintiff into the rear of his police vehicle,” the lawsuit claims.

The woman said her pleas to have the cuffs removed or loosened up were ignored by Rolerson. She was escorted to the Rockland Police Department where she was forced to remain in a room for four hours, all while still being in severe pain, according to the lawsuit.

Lane was arrested by Rolerson on charges of assault and refusing to submit to arrest. The charges against the woman were later dismissed by the Knox County District Attorney’s office on November 5, 2020, for “insufficient evidence.”

The lawsuit claims that Rolerson did not attempt to confirm that Lane was the mother of the man arrested and was safe to drive the vehicle. By failing to do so, the officer violated department’s custom or policy in force when a vehicle is to be impounded. The suit also states that it was contrary to police policy that no medical attention was ever provided to Lane. She was never transported to a hospital facility for medical attention or otherwise received medical attention despite, during the time she was detained at the Knox County jail, after pointing out her obvious injuries to officers and personnel present.

On the following day, Lane went to Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport where she was treated for bruising and other injuries. She had photographs taken of her injuries the following day to ensure proper documentation of her treatment as the Rockland Police Department failed to do so and contrary to police policy both the laws of the United States and the State of Maine, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit alleges that the City of Rockland is liable for the acts and omissions of Rolerson who applied physical force that is unreasonable or unnecessary for the particular circumstances.

Luttrell and Young also neglected their responsibilities as policymakers due to their negligence in training, directing, disciplining, and ensuring compliance with department policy on the part of Rolerson in a timely manner to protect the woman from bodily injuries and emotional distress, the complaint said.

Lane is seeking judgement for the award of damages, fees and costs in accordance with and provided by Federal and State law.

“Glennis Lane suffered and will continue to suffer pain, mental anguish as well as embarrassment and humiliation from her arrest to her release,” the lawsuit states.

Sarah Shepherd can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com