I made the paper

They kinda got it wrong but it might not be such a bad thing. We might be able to resolve the matter.

http://www.thehour.com/story/490990
Minister files lawsuit against police
Posted on 09/01/2010
email | print | link to this article | ShareThis

NORWALK

By STEVE KOBAK

Hour Staff Writer

A local pastor is suing the city, the police chief and various officers from the Norwalk Police Department, claiming his civil rights were violated when he was arrested in front of his congregation for a breach of peace charge in September 2008.

The Rev. Paul Junchniewich, pastor of Calvary Chapel Church of Norwalk, filed the lawsuit Aug. 12 in federal court against the city for more than $15,000, according to the lawsuit.

"What they did to me was wrong," Junchniewich said.

M. Jeffrey Spahr, who represents the city and the Norwalk Police Department in the case, and Junchniewich both said they plan to meet in the near future to discuss the lawsuit. Junchniewich said he is "going to be pretty hard to ignore," and he wants to negotiate with the city to resolve the lawsuit.

Spahr said he is "trying to get an understanding" of the complicated case, and he is still sifting through the influx of documents that Junchniewich sent to him.

Junchniewich was arrested on two separate occasions in September 2008 on misdemeanor charges stemming from a landlord-tenant dispute about the condo at the 25 Van Zant Street complex where Calvary Church is located.

He was issued an infraction for simple trespass on Sept. 5, 2008, after violating a civil court order to stay out of the common areas in the Van Zant Street complex, according to police reports.

Junchniewich said cars were parked in the condo complex for the Oyster Festival and as a minority owner of the complex, he wanted to know how much money was being made from the Oyster Festival parking, according to police.

On Sept. 7, 2008, Junchniewich was arrested in the hallway of his church while services were being conducted, police said.

Police alleged that he again trespassed in the common area of the complex and was again inquiring about Oyster Festival parking proceeds. Both sets of charges were nolled.

Since his arrest and the subsequent nolle of the charges against him, Junchniewich has used the Calvary Chapel website to detail his side of the story, posting various documents that he claims supports his case as well as videos about the ordeal. He claims the arrests were politically motivated.

"I want them to make it right," Junchniewich

More