Letting It All Hang Out Print
Wednesday, January 28 2015

An Oregon man is suing a local sheriff's office and others after he was arrested in 2014 during a nude demonstration outside the federal courthouse in Portland.

Matthew Mglej is seeking $1.1 million in a lawsuit against the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Portland Police Bureau and others, alleging unlawful arrest and detention, use of excessive force, malicious prosecution, First Amendment rights violation, cruel and unusual punishment, battery, assault and negligence by authorities.

According to news reports, police received several complaints about a man (Mglej) playing a violin and making signs while naked outside the courthouse. Portland's city code declares it "unlawful for any person to expose his or her genitalia while in a public place or place visible from a public place, if the public place is open or available to persons of the opposite sex."

Mglej was arrested after being told his nudity violated the city code. When Mglej refused to walk on his own, police carried him to the patrol car; Mglej claims he was picked up and dropped several times and then dragged on the ground on the way to the patrol car. Mglej further claims to have been mistreated while at the Multnomah County Detention Center.

Mglej pleaded not guilty to indecent exposure four days after his arrest. He is scheduled to appear next month for a hearing in the current matter.
 
Source: oregonlive.com