A federal lawsuit filed last month against Booneville Mayor Chris Lindley seeks up to $1.5 million in damages related to the alleged assault of a juvenile in an incident at Swift Park in April 2022.
The lawsuit filed by the now 18-year-old victim, Zion Young of Booneville in US District Court in Aberdeen accuses the mayor of assaulting and injuring him during an altercation regarding a dirt bike being ridden at Swift Park on April 11, 2022.
Mayor Lindley said he has not been served with the lawsuit and has not seen a copy of the suit. City Attorney Daniel Tucker said the city has also not been served or received a copy of the suit.
The complaint, which gives only one side of a legal argument and case, states Young rode the bike to the park and parked it at a fence at the field. One of his friends asked to ride the bike which Young allowed and the friend then parked it back at the field. The suit alleges Lindley confronted Young and his friends and asked who owned the bike. Young claims he said he owned it and would move it and when he got on the bike to leave Lindley allegedly told him he was not going anywhere and pushed him from the bike before pulling his helmet off and striking him in the head. The suit claims Young suffered injuries to his wrist and severe headaches.
The suit claims Lindley was acting in his capacity as mayor and as an ex-officio police officer for the city and the alleged actions constitute an unlawful arrest and denial of due process rights as well as assault and battery.
The suit seeks a jury trial and a judgment of $1.5 million along with court costs and attorney fees.
The mayor was found guilty last October of a misdemeanor charge of simple assault on a minor and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine in connection with the incident.
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