Annapolis Candidate Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Opponent

A campaign flier in the Ward 6 election race has resulted in a defamation lawsuit being filed by a candidate, claiming his own campaign has been damaged.

A flier from Ken Kirby's campaign claims his opponent Steve Conn left the Annapolis Police Auxiliary Unit, where he served as a volunteer, after undisclosed charges against him came to light.

In a lawsuit and emails to members of the local media, Conn called the allegations false.

Conn filed the defamation lawsuit against Kirby and his campaign manager Charles Weikel Thursday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, asking for a jury trial and more than $300,000 in damages.

Conn said he left the unit to remove any conflict with his campaign. In the lawsuit, Conn said police knew of his previous charges, which he said included an open container violation in 2004 and motor vehicle infractions.

Annapolis Police Department's spokeswoman Cpl. Amy Miguez said Conn was a member of the department's Auxiliary Unit from May 2010 to September 2013, and that he left by his own choice.

Conn's lawsuit also claims that Weikel sent emails to several city officials and The Capital broaching the issue of Conn's previous charges. The suit claims the emails also compared Conn's work in the unit to "vigilantism," mentioning George Zimmerman by name.

The police's auxiliary unit are uniformed volunteer officers that assist the department, serving as their eyes and ears. The unit also conducts patrols, assists with traffic directions, and offer fingerprinting services, according to the department's website.

Patch has reached out to both sides of the lawsuit for comment.