High court allows pepper spray trial

High court allows pepper spray trial

Justices turn down appeal by Humboldt County over 1997 protest by Earth First activists

By TOM CHORNEAU
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Anti-logging activists swabbed with pepper spray during a celebrated 1997 protest can move forward with a civil rights lawsuit against Humboldt County law enforcement officials, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday.

Without comment, the court declined to consider the appeal of former Humboldt County Sheriff Dennis Lewis and his former chief deputy -- now sheriff -- Gary Philip, who were accused of using excessive force in the removal of nine protesters from the Eureka office of then-Rep. Frank Riggs, R-Windsor.

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