Officer Faces Lawsuit Over Warrantless Entry and Arrest

That's B&E and battery to you and me

A man has filed a federal lawsuit against a Lexington police officer alleging that the officer forced his way into the man's home without a warrant and charged him with several offenses that were later dismissed.

City and police officials, some of whom are also named in the lawsuit, declined to comment, as they typically do in such cases.

In a lawsuit filed April 26 in U.S. District Court, Richard Alex Vidal said he was at his home on Park Avenue between 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. on April 28, 2012, when officer Ronald Kornrumpf came to the back door without an arrest warrant or search warrant. The officer allegedly demanded that Vidal disclose his name.

After briefly questioning Vidal, the complaint said, "Kornrumpf, without warning or provocation, forced his way into the home by blocking the door with his foot and pushing it violently inward toward Mr. Vidal."

Once inside the home, the complaint said, Kornrumpf put Vidal in a choke hold and forced him to the floor. Kornrumpf held Vidal "in a manner which caused pain and discomfort."