City Faces $200K Settlement In APD Strip Search

Atlanta is on the verge of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to two men who say Atlanta police strip-searched them in the middle of a busy street.

$200K Settlement Recommended After Strip Search Probe

City council members had mixed opinions about the proposed $200,000 settlement.

Councilwoman Yolanda Adrean commented on the massive size of the claim, but Councilman Ivory Lee Young said, “If we don’t settle in this case, it could potentially result in an even greater penalty.”

The proposed settlement, which crossed the desk of the council’s public safety committee Tuesday, deals with a June 2010 traffic stop. Three Atlanta police officers, of the now-disbanded Red Dog Unit, pulled over Sean Venegas and Brian Kidd. According to the pair, the officers reached down their pants and did a body cavity search on Venegas in the middle of the street.

“That’s just the lowest you can go,” passenger Brian Kidd told Channel 2’s Eric Philips earlier this year.

Adrean pressed the legal department and the police for answers.

“Is there someone from our command that can explain to me how we get through our internal affairs and allow citizens in the city to be at risk?” she asked.

The committee then went into executive session, because they said discussing the details publicly could affect current or future litigation.

But according to the internal affairs report, officers Cayenne Mayes and Travis Britt were found guilty of violating department search and seizure rules. They got written letters of reprimand. Charges against the third officer, Dion Meredith, were not sustained. Mayes was recently fired for his role in the infamous Atlanta Eagle bar raid.

When the committee returned, the vote to approve the settlement was quick and unanimous. The settlement will go before the full council for final approval.

Previous Stories: March 5, 2011: More Men Come Forward With APD Red Dog Attack Claims February 1, 2011: Driver: 'I Felt Molested' After Red Dog Traffic Stop