BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FLORENCE -- Lawsuits brought by a Missouri woman and the estate of a Walton woman against Florence and Boone County officers will go to trial as the result of a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Attorneys representing Susan Stemler and the estate of Conni Black said Friday the court denied a request by the city, three Florence police officers and the Boone County Sheriff's Department to review a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Five officers were charged in the lawsuits with failing to protect Ms. Black and Ms. Stemler from Ms. Black's boyfriend.
According to police reports, Ms. Black, of Walton, and boyfriend Steve Kritis of Norwood were in a Florence bar on Feb. 19, 1994, when Ms. Black and a Missouri resident she met there, Susan Stemler, went to the restroom.
Mr. Kritis burst in, threatened to kill Ms. Stemler and assaulted Ms. Black. Ms. Stemler agreed to drive Ms. Black home, and Mr. Kritis attacked Ms. Stemler.
The women left with Mr. Kritis in pursuit. He rammed Ms. Stemler's car in a failed attempt to stop her.
Florence Officer Thomas Dusing stopped Mr. Kritis. Florence officers Bobby Joe Wince and John Dolan and Boone County Sheriff's Deputies Rob Reuthe and Chris Alsip drove up shortly thereafter. The suits, relying on police reports, stated that Deputy Reuthe told Officer Dusing that Mr. Kritis said Ms. Stemler was a lesbian kidnapping his girlfriend. The deputy also said Mr. Kritis smelled of alcohol.
Although Ms. Black told the officers what had happened, she was told she would be arrested if she did not get back in the pickup with Mr. Kritis. Ms. Stemler was arrested for driving under the influence.
Mr. Kritis drove away and wrecked the truck. Ms. Black was decapitated. Ms. Stemler was acquitted of driving under the influence and later sued. Ms. Black's father, William Chapman, sued on her behalf, saying the officers violated her rights by knowingly putting her in danger.
U.S. District Court Judge William Bertelsman had dismissed both suits, saying the accusers couldn't prove the officers were deliberately indifferent to the women's rights.
The appeals court ruling said the suits must go to trial.
