Woman sues Newport for making “citizens arrest” during ding-dong-ditch incident

A legal battle has emerged in Newport after a woman claimed she was wrongfully arrested by the city’s police following an incident involving juveniles playing “ding dong ditch.” Cheryl Hodgson, a longtime police officer, filed a lawsuit against the City of Newport over the events that transpired on December 27, 2024, while she was visiting her son on Morton Avenue.

According to the lawsuit, Hodgson noticed a suspicious person across the street from where she and her son were located. When she approached some individuals she deemed as involved in “ding dong ditch,” things quickly escalated. Hodgson tried to stop one of the individuals by placing her arm across his chest, interrogating them on their actions. She claimed the teenagers were playing the game but didn’t actually reach the front door.

In the lawsuit, Hodgson’s action is referred to as a “citizens’ arrest” where she mentioned her law enforcement background and threatened to call the police unless the teenagers called their parents. The situation deteriorated when one individual accused her of illegally holding him and contacted his father, who turned hostile towards Hodgson.

As tensions rose, Hodgson, feeling threatened, called 911 and retrieved her firearm, anticipating potential danger. When the police arrived, Hodgson claimed that she identified herself as a police officer, informed them of her weapon, and secured it as requested. However, she alleged that officers forcibly restrained her, handcuffed her, and held her in a police cruiser for an extended period while they searched her son’s apartment despite her explanations that nobody else was present.

Throughout the ordeal, Hodgson complained of breathing difficulties and requested her inhaler, which was denied by the officers. Following her brief hospitalization for an inhaler, she was taken to the Police Department where she underwent fingerprinting and a mugshot process. Despite providing necessary explanations and cooperating with law enforcement, Hodgson found herself embroiled in a legal battle after being unlawfully detained.

Hodgson’s attorney, V. Edward Formisano, is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the trauma and mistreatment his client endured during the incident. This lawsuit illustrates the complexities and potential consequences of individuals attempting “citizens’ arrests” in ongoing criminal activities and the subsequent interactions with law enforcement agencies. The incident raises questions about the appropriate response by both civilians and police in similar circumstances, shedding light on the legal and procedural issues surrounding citizen interventions in law enforcement matters.