Woman, son sue Piedmont, claiming harassment

A Piedmont, Missouri, woman and her son are suing their hometown, the mayor and police, accusing them in federal court of harassment and violating their civil rights.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit Thursday in Cape Girardeau on behalf of Tina Warren and Bryan Jeffers.

The lawsuit names Piedmont Mayor Bill Kirkpatrick, the police chief and a police officer in the 2,000-resident Wayne County town, and the county's sheriff.

The lawsuit alleges after calling for an audit of the city, Warren and Jeffers have been "subjected to a campaign of harassment" by the defendants. The lawsuit says the civil-rights violations were prompted by Warren's repeated, constitutionally protected obscene gestures toward the mayor.

Messages left with Kirkpatrick and other defendants weren't returned Friday.

Pertinent address:

Piedmont, Mo.