Attorneys for Russellville Police Department Chief Chris Hargett have filed a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought against Hargett by a Littleville man.
Through his attorney, Griffin Sikes Jr., of Montgomery, Henry Eudone Donnie Vinson filed a two-count civil complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama naming Hargett as the lone defendant.
Vinson alleges Hargett unlawfully arrested and detained him on May 11, 2020, after he was taken into custody in the driveway of his Colbert County residence. The second count alleges Hargett used excessive force against Vinson, resulting in physical injury.
Hargett's attorney, Gregory Burgess of Huntsville, filed an answer denying all claims by Vinson.
On June 21, 2024, Burgess filed a Motion for Summary Judgment, arguing that, as a matter of law, Hargett is entitled to summary judgment and the case is due to be dismissed. The motion alleges there are 'no genuine issues as to any material facts' on Vinson's false arrest claim and his excessive force claim.
Vinson's attorney has filed a response to the motion and a legal brief which denies there are no genuine issues of material facts and asking the Court to set the case for a jury trial.
The case was assigned to United States District Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala, who will ultimately decide whether Hargett's Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted or denied.
Vinson was arrested by Hargett on three misdemeanor charges, Resisting Arrest, Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer and a violation of Alabama's Move Over Law. Vinson was found not guilty of Resisting Arrest in Russellville Municipal Court, but was convicted of the other two offenses. Vinson then appealed the cases to Franklin County Circuit Court and asked for a jury trial.
On March 8, 2023, a jury found Vinson not guilty of both charges.
Vinson, who was 65 at the time of his arrest in 2020, was absolved of any criminal liability from the May 11, 2020, incident after that jury trial.
One of Hargett's defenses in his answer to the federal lawsuit was that Vinson was not unlawfully detained because Hargett lawfully arrested him and charged him with three offenses. Hargett's attorney maintains that defense now even after a jury found Vinson not guilty.
According to Vinson's complaint, he was driving north on U.S. Highway 43 on May 11, 2020, with his wife, daughter and son-in-law in the car with him. Vinson's complaint maintains he was driving home, which would have entailed him making a right turn onto Lakeview Lane, where he lives about .5 miles down the road at the intersection of Lakeview Lane and Sheffield Circle.
Vinson alleges he was nearing Lakeview Lane when he drove 'over a rise in Highway 43' and noticed a Russellville police vehicle on a traffic stop of another vehicle. Vinson's complaint states both vehicles were 'stopped or parked barely off the right-hand side of the roadway.'
That police vehicle was being driven by Hargett, who was working overtime traffic detail that afternoon.
Vinson said he slowed his truck in preparation of moving into the left lane, but a white SUV was traveling in that lane and prevented him from safely moving over, as is required by Alabama's Motor Vehicle Code.
Vinson maintains Hargett and the driver of the vehicle he had stopped both were in their vehicles when he passed and that he did so 'without incident' since he could not change lanes.
Vinson turned onto Lakeview Lane, and as he neared his driveway, his daughter told him a police vehicle was approaching with its lights and siren on. Vinson pulled into his driveway and the police vehicle, driven by Hargett, pulled in behind him, the complaint alleges.
He further alleges Hargett approached him angrily and was 'visibly shaking with rage' as he approached Vinson, accusing Vinson of 'almost running over him.'
He then states Hargett 'forcefully grabbed Vinson's right arm and twisted it behind his back,' something Vinson protested due to having previously had rotator cuff surgery on his right arm. He maintains Hargett threw him on the ground, pinned him down and forcefully placed handcuffs on him.
In his answer, Hargett alleges Vinson 'failed to slow down while passing him and his patrol vehicle...and continued to drive in the right-hand lane at the same rate of speed toward Lakeview Lane before turning.'
Hargett also maintains Vinson failed to pull over even though Hargett's lights and siren were activated. And when he instructed Vinson to put his hands on his truck, Vinson failed to comply so he grabbed Vinson's right arm.
Hargett's defense is based on his position that no excessive force was used and that he acted reasonably and in good faith while arresting Vinson.
Hargett's attorney also asserts that Vinson's civil rights violation allegation fails because Vinson 'was in violation of Alabama law.'
With the jury's verdict acquitting Vinson of all charges, though, that defense could seemingly no longer be available.
If Hargett's Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, the case would end, subject to any appeals. If it's denied, the Court will set a trial date, likely to be in 2025.
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