A man is suing the city of Newark for arresting him during a State of the City Address in April.
John Henneberry, frequent commenter at Newark City Council meetings, filed the civil rights lawsuit in federal court last week, according to The Argus. The suit claims his first, fourth and 14th amendment rights were violated. He says he was imprisoned without probable cause for an excessive period of time in unsafe conditions. Henneberry is suing the city of Newark, City Manger John Becker, and Newark Police, to name a few of the defendants.
Becker told The Argus, “The lawsuit is frivolous and completely without merit, and it will be defended vigorously."
Henneberry says he was sitting in the audience, waiting for Mayor Alan Nagy to give his annual assessment of the city’s health, when Becker saw him. Henneberry said Becker had him arrested and sent to Santa Rita Jail, where he was incarcerated for 32 hours.
Henneberry is renowned among the civically engaged members of Newark for the ways he demands government officials reform their actions.
Take a look at this August 2013 video to see the ways he interacts with Newark government.
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