Asbury Park Woman Loses Suit Against Belmar Police During Drunk Driving Arrest

BELMAR – A woman who broke her hip when she toppled off a chair several times at Belmar police headquarters while being processed for her third drunk driving arrest has lost her lawsuit against two police officers, according to app.com.

“The lawsuit itself was ridiculous,’’ Mayor Matt Doherty said on Monday. “It never should have even gone to trial. The police should have immunity for cases like this." That being said, I’m very happy with the result that found in favor of the police department. We have an outstanding police department. I’m glad this is finally resolved and we can put it behind us.’’

It took a Monmouth County jury only an hour to exonerate Officer Michael R. Allen and Sgt. Sean Pringle of failing to take "reasonable care" of Linda Leone, 69, when she fell off the chair.

In a 5-1 verdict, the jury found no negligence on the part of Belmar police in processing Leone for her third drunk driving arrest on April 22, 2010.

The two officers placed Leone on the floor after she fell off the chair several times while waiting to take a breath test, the report states.

Leone admitted she was “highly intoxicated,’’ after having four vodka and orange juice cocktails, each with double shots of liquor, at a nearby bar between 7 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. the day she was arrested in Belmar.

Leone was released from custody later the same day. She sought treatment at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch two days later, according to court papers. At that point, she learned she had multiple fractures of her hip for which she required surgery, the court papers said.

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Image: Patch file photo