Seekonk Man, Daughter File Civil Complaint Against City of Attleboro and Its Police Department

A Seekonk father and his daughter filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court today against the City of Attleboro, the and several retired and existing officers, alleging that repeated police harassment was inflicted upon them.

Michael and Christine Chora filed a civil complaint and demand for trial by jury in U.S. District Court on Thursday claiming false arrests and excessive force. There are a total of 46 counts. Both Michael and Christine used to live in Attleboro. She is still a resident there, although he has moved to Seekonk.

According to the 40-page document, retired Chief of Detectives Kenneth Collins, Sgt. Brian Witherell, Sgt. James MacDonald, former dispatcher Eric Ventola and Officer Joseph Rebello are all named in the complaint.

Michael Chora is alleging unlawful apprehension, false arrest and malicious prosecution based on an incident that occurred on Aug. 8, 2008. Christina Chora is alleging unlawful prosecution based on incidents that occurred on Sept. 3, 2010, and Dec. 5, 2010.

The complaint follows several other complaints of and filed against the City of Attleboro, the Attleboro Police Department and some of its

Attleboro Police Det. Sgt. Art Brillon said that because the litigation is pending, the department is "unable to respond at this time."

Calls and email requests for comment sent to Mayor Kevin Dumas went unanswered.

Shouting Match Ends in Arrest

According to the complaint, Michael Chora states that officers grabbed him in an attempt to handcuff him after he and Chief of Detectives Kenneth Collins engaged in a verbal shouting match at a barbecue held at the Attleboro Elks.

Before he was cuffed, Chora was told by then Officers Witherell, MacDonald and Ventola to stay away from the roulette table that Collins was manning.

Chora complied, according to a statement in his complaint. Officers Witherell and MacDonald then allegedly approached Chora and told him that he was "causing trouble."

After being told he'd be taken into custody and while being handcuffed, Chora was tased on his lower back twice in drive-stun mode, according to the complaint. Tasers are operated in two modes: probe and drive stun. Using the probe mode, the Taser fires the barbs. In drive-stun mode it is applied directly to the body of the person. 

Chora states he was incapacitated and fell to the ground in pain.

Police say Chora was under the influence of alcohol when he was put in protective custody. Before being placed under arrest and charged with resisting arrest, he was charged with disorderly conduct that night. He was released the next day. 

After a dozen continuances at Attleboro District Court, Chora's resisting arrest charge was dismissed for failure of the Commonwealth to produce the Attleboro Police Department's taser report. The disorderly conduct charge was dismissed months later for failure to produce the list of officers on duty. 

The case was refiled on Dec. 3, 2009, by the department's prosecutors and Chora was again arraigned on the same charges. The case was heard in October 2010. 

After two years and twice charged, Chora was found not guilty.

Chora has a history of arrests from 1990 to 2011, according to court documents. He was arrested or detained on eight separate occasions by Attleboro Police Department members. 

The arrests were without legal justification, according to Chora. 

Daughter's Complaint

In her complaint, Christina Chora alleges that she was stopped on two different occasions, Sept. 5, 2010, and again on Dec. 3, 2010. During the first stop she was allegedly warned about her driving. The second stop, which was based on driving to endanger, resulted in Chora submitting two breathalyzer tests. 

Both father and daughter say the pattern of harassment and false arrests have caused them emotional pain and deprived them of substantive constitutional rights.

Calls to the Choras' attorneys were not returned. On Thursday afternoon, photos were taken at Michael Chora's Seekonk residence located at 205 Central Ave.

It appeared as though no one was home. A knock to the front door went unanswered. A Keller Williams "for sale" sign was wedged into the front lawn and a padlock secured a screen door on the side of the house. Still, windows were open and items were piled in the garage. A small speedboat and black truck sat on the side of the home.