Woman files suit against police

A woman who was arrested two years ago on suspicion of domestic violence and assaulting a police officer is suing Newport Beach police in federal court, claiming officers assaulted her and covered it up.

Noreen Renee Vermillion, 27, is suing 10 Newport Beach police officers, former Police Chief John Klein and interim Police Chief Robert Luman, claiming that the officers used excessive force against her and lied about it, and that the chiefs are responsible because it’s their department.

Police arrested Vermillion on Feb. 19, 2008, on suspicion of domestic battery and battery against a police officer with injury. Court records show she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor resisting police and was sentenced to three years’ informal probation and 40 hours of community service.

According to her suit, filed Dec. 22 in federal court, Vermillion was arrested about 2 a.m. in a Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian emergency room where she was receiving treatment for a serious medical condition. She claims that an officer used excessive force against her, though her suit does not specify why the officer was using any force on her in the first place.

Vermillion’s suit goes on to say that police violated her right to not endure cruel and unusual punishment because they didn’t get her proper medical treatment for the injuries one of the officers gave her. She claims the officer’s excessive force caused severe permanent injuries, emotional suffering and exacerbated her preexisting medical condition. The suit does not specify what her medical condition is.

Neither Vermillion’s attorney nor Newport Beach City Atty. David Hunt were available for comment Monday.

The suit goes on to say the officer who injured her and others filed false police reports to cover up the assault, and they didn’t take pictures of her injuries so there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

Vermillion is seeking unspecified monetary damages. The city has not filed an answer to the suit yet, court records show.