Man settles claim with city
City pays $250,000 over drug-planting accusation
Batch Data Processor | Wednesday, May 23 2007 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 23 2007 11:11 PM
The Bakersfield Californian
A man who accused a Bakersfield police officer of planting drugs on him has settled with the city of Bakersfield for $250,000, according to his lawyer.
Thomas Teagarden Jr. filed a claim for damages against the city in October, saying that former Bakersfield police Officer Sherman Rooks planted drugs on him in retribution for an encounter with the officer's wife. An officer pulled Teagarden over, accusing Teagarden of a seat belt violation, according to the claim.
Rooks then searched Teagarden's car with a dog and pulled a baggie with a white powdery substance out of the car. Teagarden denied the drugs were his, but was arrested. Before the case went to trial, police Lt. Mike Cantrell asked the District Attorney's office to drop the charges, which it did.
Rooks was fired in November 2006 but a department spokeswoman declined to say why at the time.
Daniel Rodriguez, Teagarden's lawyer, said previously that he believed Rooks thought that Teagarden had some kind of relationship with his wife years ago in San Luis Obispo.
Wednesday, Rodriguez said his client was happy to have the issue behind him.
"He's happy that the city accepted at least some responsibility and did the right thing," Rodriguez said.
City Attorney Ginny Gennaro was not immediately available Wednesday evening for comment.
City Manager Alan Tandy said he was not specifically aware of the settlement, which requires City Council approval. But the council has discussed the Teagarden case in closed session on several occasions, Tandy said, and may have previously given the city attorney authorization to settle during one of those closed-door meetings.
Rodriguez said he had been told the settlement had been approved.
