Suit claims officer abused teen

Former Toledo Police Officer Christopher McQueen, who was criminally charged in January with five counts of sexual imposition, now faces two lawsuits from women.

The behavior that prompted the filing of criminal charges against former Toledo Police Officer Christopher McQueen began years before when he was the officer assigned to Woodward High School, a lawsuit in Lucas County Common Pleas Court alleges.

Kenyada Hooks, 20, of Toledo alleged assault, the infliction of emotional distress, and childhood sexual abuse in her suit involving Mr. McQueen. The case, assigned to Judge James Jensen, is the second within a few days filed against the former officer by women.

The complaint claims that "on one or more occasions, McQueen, without probable cause or reason to do so, verbally and physically assaulted plaintiff " It also alleges that the incidents occurred when Mr. McQueen was a person in authority at Woodward High School and when he had "temporary or occasional disciplinary control over plaintiff."

The acts allegedly occurred in the fall of 2004 when Ms. Hooks, then 16, was a student at Woodward High School, the suit said. A Toledo Public Schools spokesman said staff were unable to find any complaints filed by Ms. Hooks against him with district officials.

Last week, two other women filed a lawsuit against Mr. McQueen claiming that they were inappropriately touched while being searched during stops. Mr. McQueen was criminally charged in January with five counts of sexual imposition involving incidents in June and August of 2008.

In May, Mr. McQueen pleaded no contest in Toledo Municipal Court and was found guilty of four counts of unlawful restraint, a lower-level misdemeanor, and faced up to eight months in jail.

On July 17, Mr. McQueen's scheduled sentencing date, attorney Jay Feldstein requested that he be allowed to withdraw his plea. A Sept. 4 hearing date was set by Judge Amy Berling.

Attorney Jack Fynes, who filed the lawsuits on behalf of all three women, said a complaint was filed at the time about Ms. Hooks' allegations, but that no criminal action took place.

Jay Feldstein, the attorney representing Mr. McQueen in his criminal case, declined to comment, saying neither he nor his client had seen the lawsuit.