A Vermont man is suing the state and a law enforcement officer after he was arrested for flipping off the officer. The case highlights questions about the boundaries of free speech and constitutional rights.
The incident happened on February 9, 2018, when Gregory Bombard was pulled over by State Trooper Jay Riggen, who erroneously believed that Bombard had flipped him off while driving by. The situation escalated when Bombard actually did flip Riggen off while driving away from the initial traffic stop. The officer pulled him over again and arrested him for disorderly conduct.
The entire incident was captured on bodycam footage.
Now, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont are involved in the case.
The lawsuit argues that “it is clearly…
