By Bonnie Culverhouse

A local TV station reported last week that a lawsuit has been filed naming Minden Police officers, the chief and The City of Minden.

Neither defendants in the federal civil rights lawsuit nor their attorneys are allowed to comment on the pending litigation. However, Todd Benson, attorney for the complainant 58-year-old Ben Quarles, talked with the television station, as did Quarles.

According to Channel 6 News, Quarles was rear-ended by an 18-wheeler on February 1, 2022 at the intersection of Pine and Main streets in downtown Minden.

The report shows Quarles committed no traffic violations and the truck driver was following too closely.

Body cam footage shows Quarles was pulled from his vehicle, pepper sprayed and arrested when he refused to get out of his car.

The lawsuit names Minden Police officers Chris McClaren, Chris Hammontree, Chief Steve Cropper and The City of Minden. 

An anonymous source said the police department has received threatening phone calls since the story aired.

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