Vermont man who gave police officer the finger and was arrested to receive part of $175,000 settlement

Lina Portman7 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Vermont has agreed to pay $175,000 to settle a lawsuit on behalf of a man who was charged with a felony for giving the finger to a state trooper in 2018, the chapter announced Wednesday of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the ACLU of Vermont on behalf of Gregory Bombard, of St. Albans. It says Bombard's First Amendment rights were violated after an unnecessary traffic stop and retaliatory arrest in 2018.

Officer Jay Riggen stopped Bombard's vehicle in St. Albans on Feb. 9, 2018, because he thought Bombard had given him the finger, according to the suit. Bombard denied making the move but was detained by Riggen for several minutes for questioning, according to the ACLU of Vermont. Once the initial stop was completed, Bombard swore and showed the middle finger as he walked away.

Riggen stopped Bombard again, arrested him for disorderly conduct and ordered his car towed. He was jailed for more than an hour and cited for criminal court, according to the ACLU. The charge was dropped almost a year later.

An image taken from police dashcam video shows Gregory Bombard arrested on February 9, 2018 in St. Albans, Vermont.

Vermont State Police via the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

In the 2021 lawsuit, the ACLU argued that using the middle finger to protest a police officer's actions was free speech protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 13 of the Vermont Constitution.

Under the agreement the parties signed this month, the state agreed to pay Bombard $100,000 and $75,000 to the ACLU of Vermont and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression for legal fees. .

“While our client is pleased with this outcome, this incident should never have happened in the first place,” ACLU of Vermont attorney Hillary Rich said in a statement. “Police must respect everyone’s First Amendment rights, even for things they consider offensive or insulting.”

Vermont State Police had no comment on the settlement. Vermont admitted no wrongdoing as part of the agreement.

Bombard said in a statement provided by the ACLU that he hoped the Vermont State Police would train its troopers “to avoid silencing critics or conducting baseless car stops.”