Watts police chief plans counter lawsuit

Watts - The police chief in Watts says he'll sue an Arkansas couple who claim they were roughed up and threatened during a traffic stop.<br><br>Chief Mike Johnson says he'll sue the couple for

Saturday, April 12th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Watts - The police chief in Watts says he'll sue an Arkansas couple who claim they were roughed up and threatened during a traffic stop.

Chief Mike Johnson says he'll sue the couple for slander and defamation of character.

LL and Irene Tevebaugh of Gentry, Arkansas, plan to sue the small eastern Oklahoma town because they say they were dragged out of their vehicle and bruised during a stop for speeding.

The Tevebaughs were traveling on U-S 59 when Watts police officer David Jones clocked them at 57 miles per hour in a 40 mile-per-hour zone.

Eighty-six-year-old L-L Tevebaugh says the three officers pulled him from his truck and threw him to the ground. He says Jones pushed him to the wet pavement, placed his knee in the small of his back and handcuffed him.

The officers then pulled 85-year-old Irene Tevebaugh from the
truck and handcuffed her.