The surrogate
It begins with a woman who yearns for a baby and another who is willing and able to give her one. You can imagine the motives of the prospective parents. But what about the woman willing to carry a baby, give birth and then walk away?
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Tamika Denise Lane-Gardner says the case against her violated her civil liberties.
TAMPA — A former teacher's aide is suing the Tampa Police Department for violating her civil rights, claiming officials misrepresented the truth and cast her in a false light when discussing her sexual abuse case with the media.
State prosecutors dropped the charges against Tamika Denise Lane-Gardner, 32, accused of abusing a 6-year-old girl at the Walton Academy for the Performing Arts on Florida Avenue.
But soon after her arrest, then-police spokesman Larry McKinnon told reporters "there was penetration of the child and that's what determines the case of sexual battery as opposed to lewd and lascivious or inappropriate touching," the lawsuit said.
In dropping the charges in August 2006, prosecutors said the case had too much reasonable doubt for the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office to proceed.
Lane-Gardner had denied the allegations and passed a polygraph test. Prosecutors found no corroborating evidence, and witness credibility became suspect. Prosecutors said the child's mother had made similar accusations before.
"The actions of the city of Tampa's (Police Department) ... in instituting, maintaining and publicizing false charges of sexual battery against Mrs. Lane-Gardner have caused Mrs. Lane-Gardner severe emotional damage, damaged her reputation and caused her to be socially isolated and ostracized," Lane-Gardner's attorney, Christopher Knopik, said in the lawsuit filed in federal court. "This incident will haunt her forever."
Knopik said Lane-Gardner, who had no prior criminal record, must now report her arrest on future job applications as she looks for work at schools.
Prosecutors said officers had enough information to arrest Lane-Gardner but required more to prosecute the case.
Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy declined to discuss the lawsuit.
"It's our policy not to comment on pending litigation," she said.
The lawsuit names as defendants the city of Tampa, Police Chief Stephen Hogue and McKinnon, who now works for the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office.
Kevin Graham can be reached at kgraham@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3433.
[Last modified: Jul 31, 2008 03:12 PM]
Comments on this article
by Concerned
Jul 31, 2008 3:12 PM
Shame on everyone!This poor woman will have to live with this forever.Ruin someone's name before having a case? Way to go Hillsborough!Hope she wins her civil case against them.Too many people being accused in Hills. Mordenti, Aisenbergs, etc.
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