Woman alleges state trooper strip-searched her during traffic stop
A woman said that she was strip-searched on the side of Interstate 70 in South Strabane, Pa, by the state police this summer after being pulled over for traveling 5 mph over the speed limit by Trooper Brian Rousseau. Holly Elish, 34, of Bentleyville, said in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday that she was heading home from work on June 27 when she was pulled over for speeding.
No criminal charges were ever filed, the lawsuit said. A traffic citation filed against Elish for driving 60 in a 55 mph speed zone was dismissed at a hearing after Trooper Rousseau failed to appear in court.
The lawsuit names as defendants Rousseau, who it says is assigned to the state police Troop B barracks in Eighty Four, Washington County, as well as three unnamed state troopers (also at the traffic stop). It includes claims for unlawful search and false imprisonment and alleges that Elish suffered mental anguish, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional pain and suffering.
The lawsuit notes that the troopers never saw or found contraband on Elish, or saw her drive erratically, and that there was nothing that would require “urgent action or a warrantless search.” A message left with the state police spokesperson was not returned.
https://triblive.com/local/regional/bentleyville-woman-alleges-state-trooper-strip-searched-her-during-i-70-traffic-stop/