Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
SUZANNAH GONZALESThe city's insurance company recommends paying to end the lawsuit a woman filed over the treatment of her son.
INVERNESS - On Tuesday, the Inverness City Council will consider a recommendation by the city's insurance company to settle a lawsuit involving an Inverness man, whose mother accused an Inverness police officer of aggressively handling her son two years ago during an arrest.
Cheryl Bollenback accused former Inverness Police Officer Todd Holloway, now a Citrus County sheriff's deputy, of falsely imprisoning her son, Adam, beating him and intentionally causing emotional distress. She claimed the city also is responsible because it employed Holloway.
The insurance company has proposed a $20,000 settlement, $5,000 of which would be paid by the city, City Manager Frank DiGiovanni said Saturday. The recommendation came after an Orlando lawyer, appointed by the insurance company, met with Bollenback's lawyer out of court.
DiGiovanni said the Chicago-based insurance company, Coregis, "strongly encouraged" the settlement. He added that the $20,000 is more than the city has experienced in similar situations.
City officials will discuss and consider the settlement during the City Council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Adam Bollenback made headlines in Citrus County when Circuit Judge Ric A. Howard sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Bollenback was found guilty of petty theft, burglary and escape after he took a six-pack of beer out of a neighbor's garage and escaped from a deputy's patrol car after he was caught. He was 16 when the crimes were committed. The arrest the recommended settlement refers to happened in April 2002, while Bollenback awaited trial on charges that eventually led to the 10-year prison sentence. Officer Holloway was called to Melody Street and Stately Oaks Drive after a report of juveniles drinking alcohol.
Bollenback and another youth ran when they saw the patrol car. Holloway chased them and eventually caught them.
On the way to the Citrus County jail, the two youths banged their heads on the patrol car's cage and windows. Holloway pulled into the NAPA Auto Parts parking lot, took Bollenback out of the car and put restraints on his legs.
Once out of the car, Bollenback kicked Holloway, and when he wouldn't stop, Holloway sprayed him with pepper spray.
In the suit filed in November 2002, Cheryl Bollenback sought compensation of more than $15,000 for the damages she said she and her son endured.
- Suzannah Gonzales can be reached at 860-7312 or sgonzales@sptimes.com