By Corey Arwood and William Carroll
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama in conjunction with the Dothan law firm of Buntin, Etheredge & Fowler LLC filed a civil rights action on behalf of Lynwood Keith Golden Thursday morning at 11:55 a.m. against the City of Wetumpka, Wetumpka Police Officer Charles Shannon and Wetumpka Police Chief Danny Billingsley alleging some 15 causes of action stemming from the filming Golden conducted of the Wetumpka Police Department on or around June 2.
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