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ACLU sues ISP Trooper over faith questions

Posted at 8:22 AM, Apr 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-07 00:07:49-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is suing an Indiana State Police Trooper, claiming the trooper prolonged a traffic stop by asking a woman about her faith.

According to a lawsuit filed Tuesday, ISP Trooper Brian Hamilton pulled over Wendy Pyle, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, for speeding.

The lawsuit claims Hamilton gave Pyle a warning ticket, then asked her what church she attended and whether she was saved.

He then invited her to his church and gave her directions to it, Pyle claims.

She says she did not feel free to leave while the questions were being asked. She filed a formal complaint about the stop. 

Hamilton has been sued for similar claims before. In Oct. 2014, he was accused of prolonging a traffic stop by asking a woman about her faith, then handing her a pamphlet about how to become a Christian. The civil case was closed in April 2015.

Pyle is requesting a jury trial for violating her First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights.

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