PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio — The Village of Put-in-Bay and three former members of the village’s police department are being sued by a man and a woman who allege they were subjected to excessive use of force and wrongly detained by the officers over Memorial Day weekend.
Monica Gulledge and Lyle Taylor, of Westland, Mich., filed a complaint Thursday in U.S. District Court seeking $75,000 from Michael Russo, Terry Rutledge, Dwayne Webb, and the village. At the time of the incident in question, Mr. Russo was a lieutenant with Put-in-Bay police, while Mr. Rutledge was a corporal. Mr. Webb was an officer.
During the May 24 incident, the plaintiffs and their extended family were registered guests at the Put-in-Bay Resort. According to their complaint, at about 10:30 p.m., Mr. Russo, who was responding to an unrelated report of a sexual assault, heard a commotion and approached Ms. Gulledge and Mr. Taylor.
“... he never made himself known and suddenly and without warning, assaulted Monica from behind, body slamming her to the ground,” the complaint reads.
The document additionally states that Ms. Gulledge and Mr. Taylor were wrongfully and illegally assaulted, detained, and, in Mr. Taylor’s case, placed in handcuffs by the other responding officers.
Footage from Lieutenant Russo’s body camera, previously obtained by The Blade, shows a verbal dispute breaking out between the responding officers and a group of 10 to 15 people. The grainy footage shows a struggle between Lieutenant Russo and Ms. Gulledge, who can be heard yelling for the officer to get off her. Officer Webb and Lieutenant Russo at one point also drew their service pistols and issued a verbal command to the group to stay back.
After she was thrown to the ground, Ms. Gulledge, who declined medical treatment at the time, later reported that she was treated for a neck injury and a concussion.
Interim Put-in-Bay Police Chief James Kimble told The Blade that none of the officers is employed by the village’s police department. The Put-in-Bay Police Department is not included in Ms. Gulledge’s or Mr. Taylor’s lawsuit, Chief Kimble said. He added that the FBI is still investigating the incidents involving Lieutenant Russo and the other officers and no criminal charges have been filed.
Attempts to contact Mr. Russo, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Rutledge were unsuccessful.
First Published November 6, 2020, 12:07 a.m.
