A Muslim woman has filed a lawsuit against Police Chief Robert Luna and the city of Long Beach, alleging that an officer forcibly removed her religious headscarf while she was handcuffed after an arrest on an outstanding warrant.
The Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations filed the lawsuit today in Los Angeles federal court on behalf of Kirsty Powell, who alleges that the incident occurred May 5, 2015 at the Long Beach police station.
Long Beach City Attorney Charles Parkin said his office has not yet been served with the lawsuit, and therefore had no comment.
In a statement late Monday, the police department said it removed Powell’s headscarf – as it does for other items such as belts, neckties and shoelaces – for the safety of the individual, staff and other prisoners.
“We respect the religious rights and beliefs of all people and understand the sensitivity of this matter,” said Chief Robert Luna said in a statement.” [Long Beach Press Telegram] Read more
