Siggs sue sheriff, county commission

Federal lawsuits were filed this week by Iola car dealer Mitch Sigg and his son, John, against the Allen County Commission and Sheriff Bryan Murphy.
The suits were filed in U.S. District Court in Wichita, stemming from the Siggs’ arrests during a traffic stop and what occurred afterward on Feb. 2, 2013.
Both suits seek $1 million in damages, claiming the Siggs’ constitutional rights were violated.
The suits allege that deputies pulled John Sigg over for driving a vehicle from Sigg Motors, a used vehicle dealership in Iola. John Sigg works for his father at the dealership.
The vehicle purportedly had a malfunctioning headlight, prompting the initial traffic stop.
According to the petition, John Sigg was arrested after he initially refused to sign a traffic ticket for failing to provide proof of insurance. Because it was a dealership vehicle, it was exempt from having to be insured, the petition states.
When Mitch Sigg arrived at the scene moments later on his son’s behalf, a verbal confrontation with deputies led to his arrest for alleged disorderly conduct.
John Sigg’s petition alleges his Fourth (dealing with illegal search and seizure) and 14th Amendment rights (equal protection of laws) were violated. Mitch Sigg’s petition alleges his First (free speech) and Fourth Amendment rights were violated.
As an aside, Mitch Sigg’s charges will be decided in a jury trial starting Monday in Allen County District Court.
No charges were filed against John Sigg after the incident.
Murphy, noting the active case against Mitch Sigg, declined to comment. Likewise, Jim Talkington, County Commission chairman, and Alan Webber, the county counselor, declined to comment.