Former Lawmaker Sues Police Claiming 'Set-Up' in Arrest

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) A former state lawmaker is suing the city of Montgomery and its police chief over his arrest last year on a sex abuse charge that was later dropped, maintaining he only politely hugged the woman in question.

Former Rep. Perry Hooper Jr. filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday saying the charge was laughable and claiming he was the victim of a political set-up by political enemies.

The lawsuit accuses city officials of violating the state open records law and his due process rights by not letting him see the police file on the case.

The Plaintiff and his family have suffered emotionally and financially. The only way for the Plaintiff to save his reputation is to view said file and expose what was an obvious political set-up by the plaintiffs political enemies," attorneys wrote.