A federal judge has ruled the First Amendment does not protect a man arrested for holding a sign reading “Cops Ahead” during a distracted driving investigation in Stamford.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Covello has dismissed the lawsuit brought by Michael Friend who was arrested in 2018 by Stamford Sergeant Richard Gasparino after being given several warnings by the police sergeant to leave for interfering with the investigation.
Friend argued his actions of sharing public information was protected speech.
Judge Covello ruled there was enough compelling evidence behind the police sergeant’s actions and Friend was not protected under the First Amendment.
