One year after the Republican National Convention was held in St. Paul, protesters are filing lawsuits alleging police officers violated their constitutional rights.



At least two lawsuits were being filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, where a handful of other cases are already pending.

In one case filed Tuesday, three people are claiming police violated their rights when they entered and searched a St. Paul duplex. Ten people were detained during the search. No one was arrested and no property was seized.

Another lawsuit is being filed on behalf of people arrested during a Sept. 1 protest at Shepard Road and Chestnut Street. Lawyers say police officers corralled and arrested over 200 protesters. They say police used excessive force and didn't have probable cause to arrest everyone.

Attorneys are seeking class-action status in that case.

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Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who led the undercover investigation, declined to comment ahead of the anniversary because he's testifying in a number of convention-related cases. But he said earlier that his investigation had turned up evidence the group was planning violence and needed to be stopped.

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