Ronan sued over police hiring, training

RONAN (AP) — A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes who says he was wrongly arrested by Ronan police has filed a lawsuit alleging the city violated his constitutional rights by hiring at least one unqualified officer.

Anthony Chaney filed the lawsuit earlier this month against the city, its police department, mayor, former Police Chief Daniel Wadsworth and his son Trevor Wadsworth. Chaney alleges he was handcuffed by Trevor Wadsworth and told he was under arrest on July 14, 2013, despite the fact that Wadsworth had not undergone the required training to be a police officer.

No charges were ever filed against Chaney, who said he was struggling with his brother as he suffered an episode with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Chaney seeks to have the lawsuit declared a class action on behalf of anyone else who might have been arrested or subject to search or seizure by Trevor Wadsworth or any other ineligible police officers.

Details in Tuesday's Havre Daily News.