Rhode Island state troopers accused of excessive force during a raid on the Narragansett Reservation began their defense on Wednesday after a federal judge dismissed several claims.

The judge said there was no evidence the troopers were racially biased against two members of the tribe and a tribal employee. Other claims of assault and battery and excessive force remain against six troopers while one trooper was dismissed from the case entirely.

The lawsuit arises out of the state raid of the tribe's smokeshop on July 14, 2003. Paulla Dove Jennings and her son, Adam Jennings, and Keith Huertas, the smokeshop manager, say their rights were violated. Adam Jennings' ankle was broken during the incident.

The troopers continue their defense today.

Get the Story:
Tribe's civil-rights claims against troopers are dismissed (The Providence Journal 3/24)
pwpwd
Witness tells how his ankle broke (The Providence Journal 3/23)
Smoke shop suit targets state cops (The Chariho Times 3/24)
Judge Dismisses Several Claims In Smoke Shop Lawsuit (Turn to 10 News 3/23)
Smoke-shop suit customer testifies about raid (AP 3/22)

Relevant Links:
Narragansett Tribe - http://www.narragansett-tribe.org
Smoke Shop Showdown - http://www.projo.com/extra/2003/smokeshop

Related Stories:
State troopers on trial over raid of reservation (3/22)
Narragansett Tribe marks one year after state raid (07/15)
Narragansett Tribe to mark anniversary of raid (7/13)
State's raid on tribal land sparks strong reactions (07/16)