Bel Air Officers Cleared of Anti-Abortion Group Accusations

Charges against three officers, accused of violating First and Fourth Amendment rights of anti-abortion demonstrators in 2008, have been dismissed.

The United States District Court for the District of Maryland granted the department’s request for summary judgment on Tuesday. 

“The court found that there was no evidence that any Bel Air officer arrested anyone or otherwise actively participated in the arrests,” a release from the Local Government Insurance Trust stated.

Deputy Chief Armand Dupre, Cpl. Mark Zulauf and Officer D.J. Ravadge were accused of obstructing Defend Life, Inc., a non-profit anti-abortion advocacy group, from exercising their rights to free speech and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Dupre, Zulauf and Ravadge assisted Maryland State Police at the scene on Aug. 1, 2008, after arrests had been made, according to the release. Eighteen demonstrators were arrested that day, but Bel Air police were not held accountable because they assisted according to the release.

Harford County settled with the anti-abortion group in March for an undisclosed amount. The county also agreed to adopt a new policy “regulating the handling of peaceful protesters," according to a Defend Life spokesman.

The Maryland State Police remain defendants for accusations stemming from the same issue.