Woman left topless during police raid loses federal lawsuit

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Saturday, November 21, 2015

CAMDEN, N.J. -- A federal jury has ruled against a woman who says her constitutional rights were violated when police officers refused to let her get dressed during a raid.

The jury ruled against Tyisha Stratton last week in her suit against Vineland, its police chief and former detective Gamaliel Cruz.

Stratton says her breasts were exposed when police busted into her home with a search warrant and police didn't let her get dressed. Police were searching the home after her husband was found with drugs and guns.

Stratton says the incident lasted 15 minutes, while Cruz says it lasted 30 seconds.

She says she suffered emotional distress.

Cruz was fired in 2012 after investigators say he lied to a state judge to obtain a search warrant in a drug case.