ROCK HILL — A defamation lawsuit over publicity surrounding the controversial arrest of Travis Price back in 2021, which sparked protests in Rock Hill, has been re-filed in federal court, this time naming a former police officer, who was fired and went to trial over the incident, as a defendant.

Price has spent years of litigation against the city, claiming the narrative spread by local officials after his arrest was false and influenced public opinion.

After a traffic stop, Price was standing at a gas station while his brother was being detained. According to the lawsuit, Price was “choked, physically assaulted” and “slammed to the pavement” by then-police officer Jonathan Moreno, who was later acquitted of misdemeanor assault during a Jan. 2022 trial.

A video of the arrest of Price and his brother went viral online, leading to outrage in the community and protests. In a press conference after the arrest, Price’s attorney, Justin Bamberg, said public officials false statements had been made by public officials as well as in the police report.

The lawsuit claims Price “suffered damage to his reputation, embarrassment, humiliation, emotional distress, mental anguish and anxiety as a result of his wrongful arrest and the publishing of false statements about him.”

The initial complaint filed in 2021 sued the city of Rock Hill and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-Rock Hill, for defamation.

Norman, who also runs a commercial real estate company in the area, had posted a lengthy...

Read Full Story: https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5wb3N0YW5kY291cmll...