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Woman's suit claims search occurred at house.

Claims that an Arnaudville police officer illegally entered an area home and strip searched a woman has been filed in a federal suit in Lafayette.

The complaint states that on Nov. 21, Arnaudville police officer Doug Stringfield, without legal authority, went into the Hebert Road home of Vanessa Bergeron and forced the woman to undress.

'Following this illegal and unlawful search of the residence,' the suit states, 'Police Officer Stringfield told Vanessa Bergeron that it was his job to strip search her for any weapons.

'Police Officer Stringfield then proceed to force Vanessa Bergeron to take off her shirt, pull down her pants and pull down her underwear as he wanted.

Named with Stringfield as defendants are Arnaudville Police Chief Mike Duplechain and the Town of Arnaudville.

The suit goes on to accuse the town of not investigating 'citizen complaints of police misconduct' and failing to supervise and/or train its police officers.'

The Arnaudville Board of Aldermen control the police department through hirings, funding and policies. Daily operation of the department is under the control of the police chief, which is an elected position.

In the suit, Duplechain is also accused by Bergeron of condoning 'practices, procedures, (unreadable phrase) alleged civil rights violation.

Bergeron is asking for damages, individually and jointly.

Bergeron's attorney L. CLAYTON BURGESS could not be reached for comment as he was in court.

Stringfield could not be reached for comment as he reported on medical leave while undergoing surgery on his hand. Stringfield shot himself in the hand in August 1999 when a gun, that was seized during an early shift discharged. Stringfield was reported to have been removing it from his locker for placement in the department evidence locker.

(Phrase unable to read ) Duplechain said he began requiring all officers to check and unload their weapons before entering the police station.