NJ Couple Sues Police

A Hispanic couple has sued the state police, claiming they were improperly stopped by a trooper and harassed.

Rigoberto Martinez and Maria James Martinez of Willingboro filed their lawsuit Jan. 31 in state Superior Court. They seek unspecified damages and legal fees in the suit, which also names three troopers as defendants.

According to the suit, Rigoberto Martinez was driving a red truck on Interstate 295 in Mercer County when he was stopped by Trooper John P. Cunningham on Feb. 2, 2001. Maria Martinez was riding in the passenger seat.

The couple said Cunningham asked them inappropriate questions and detained them for 45 minutes before letting them proceed. Martinez was not issued any summonses.

When the couple called state police officials to complain about the trooper's actions, they said no one would take their complaint.

According to the suit, they were told that they "should expect to be stopped as a Mexican driving a red truck on Route 295 in New Jersey."

Neither state police officials or officials with the state Attorney General's Office were immediately available for comment on the suit.

Author: NBC 10/AP