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Crime

Woman Files Lawsuit Claiming Cop ‘Forcibly’ Pulled Out Her Tampon Over ‘Stop Sign Violation’

Aug. 9, 2012 11:00pm

Last July, after making what she thought was a routine stop at a stop sign, Florida mother of two Leila Tarantino was pulled over by a cop, who yanked her out of her car and handcuffed her while wielding a gun, all the while refusing to explain why she’d been stopped.

Tarantino was then tossed unceremoniously in the back of the officer’s squad car while he called for backup – again, without explanation.

Leila Tarantino of Citrus County Florida Claims Cop Forcibly Strip Searched Her and Pulled Out Her Tampon

Leila Tarantino

When the backup arrived, consisting of five other officers, Tarantino was strip-searched in front of her children and in full view of the road, during which the lone female officer pulled out her tampon in order to inspect her body. Despite the inspection being allegedly motivated by suspicion of drug use, no drug-sniffing dogs were called in, and Tarantino was still given no explanation for the suspicion of the police. Tarantino was, however, released with a citation.

At least, this is what happened if you believe Leila Tarantino’s lawsuit, filed this month against the Citrus County Police Department. While the officers have not been named, Citrus County Sheriff Jeffrey Dawsey is. You can read the full lawsuit below:

Tarantino Tampon Lawsuit

H/T Broward Palm Beach Times

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Comments (172)

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  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:21am

    Ladies and gentlemen, I believe this is true. The police beat my brother in-law to death while in custody. This is not the cops that my parents always told me I would be safe with. This new breed of cop they are just little gangstas with little w I n n I e s.

    Report this comment

    lassiegirldawn  
    • v15
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:44am

      I agree with you and I think her story is true. I was pulled out of the car and harassed at a sobriety checkpoint/stop because I had tattoos. And while the drug dog was running around my car, he give me an extensive sobriety test which I easily passed. I was polite to him and was non-confrontational for the most part. The girl that was riding me was hispanic and she said to the officers, “I think you are profiling him because of his tattoos.” They told her to “shut your mouth”. The infuriating part was that the officers admitted to profiling me because of my tats (that’s illegal isn’t it?) and in an attempt to smooth things over the officer that was in charge said to me, “I am an expert with identifying tattoos and, from what I can see, your tattoos are well done and I can tell they weren’t done in prison.” WTF?!? It’s unbelievable what cops will do to harass citizens. I cooperate just because I don’t have a police record nor do I break the law, with the exception of speeding. I’m very clean-cut but police – friends who are cops have admitted this to me – have been trained to look for the bad in people to the point where many will trample on your rights and harass the ordinary law-abiding citizen. btw This wasn’t the first time I’ve been profiled in Utah by cops, even when I have been in the passenger seat and silent. I have several friends that have also been profiled because of tattoos that are also clean-cut and don’t drink or do drugs.

      Report this comment

      v15  
    • lordjosh
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:35am

      That’s because they are no longer peace officers. The second you identify yourself (which you are not obliged to do) they become revenue agents and you become a slave.

      Report this comment

      lordjosh  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:27am

    Looks like Howard Stern to me.

    Is that his sister or his Mother?

    Or the runner up for Obama’s choice for VP to replace Joe Biden?

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • BryanB
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 2:18am

      Monk

      Just because their ugly, doesn’t mean you get to pull their pants down……..:)

      Report this comment

      BryanB  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:29pm

      Hi BryanB,

      Yes, you are absolutely correct. I was trying to say in a sarcastic way that the Police Officer, besides being wrong, had bad taste also…. looks like my sarcasm failed.

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • resme
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:14pm

      :O, It worked after trying what you just said, But logging out and back in. Thanks a million The-monk.

      The blaze really needs a private messaging system.

      Report this comment

      resme  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:12am

    Sounds about right.
    Cops and Florida..

    Report this comment

    Mr.Fitnah  
  • conservativewoman
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:09am

    Those who think it couldn’t be possible for a cop to do this, have not had much life experience.

    Report this comment

    conservativewoman  
  • Dumpster Baby
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:00am

    When tampons are outlawed…

    Report this comment

    Dumpster Baby  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:49am

    Uh, yeah, right. Whatever.

    Report this comment

    Tri-ox  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:36am

    Intresting to say the least. I hope THE BLAZE tracks this story because either the whole truth is not in her affidavit or something is rotten in Citrus County and it’s not the oranges.

    Report this comment

    JUSTANOTHEROPINION  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:08am

    Your of course kidding this ole Chief??? Right????

    Report this comment

    ChiefGeorge  
  • Verceofreason
    Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:00am

    Hey, it’s Florida.
    What more do you need to know?

    Report this comment

    Verceofreason  
  • demsaredumb
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:56pm

    Found one the other day, can anyone tell me what period it was from?

    Report this comment

    demsaredumb  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:52pm

    There MUST be more to this story! Is she a known drug dealer or thief? This is way overboard even for bad cops.

    Report this comment

    Diane TX  
    • Restored One
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:17am

      Reading some of the more colorful comments, I chuckle. BUT, this item could be used in a serious way. What better way to get an explosive into or onto anything. Even with my comment, I chuckle. We had shoe bomber, an underwear bomber. A tampon bomber? I wonder how the MSM would pass that one on.

      Report this comment

      Restored One  
  • PhineasJWhoopee
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:52pm

    We need good cops to prevent complete anarchy. But cops are turning into SS troopers all over the country. The government is pumping them up for Marshall Law when obama steals the election…………again.

    Report this comment

    PhineasJWhoopee  
    • historyguy48
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:16am

      Are you trying to tell me that all that money they’ve printed with far more on the way in late September or early October (QE3) was used to purchase teachers that would teach communist theory, and the police? This sounds like a conspiracy theory, or Nazi Germany, Stalins Russia, or Mao’s China, among others.
      Seen a drone yet? I can’t wait to hear the new rash of flying saucer reports when the 30,000 drones begin buzzing around.

      Report this comment

      historyguy48  
    • lordjosh
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:38am

      “We need good cops to prevent complete anarchy.”

      Prove it.

      Report this comment

      lordjosh  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:23am

      I believe that they actually contribute to the demise of a society. If they did not protect all the criminals, drug dealers that poison our kids, thieves, murderers, rapists etc. the people would “take out the trash” and our communities would be safer and better places to live in. As it stands now, if a citizen DARED to take out the trash there would be SWAT teams with helicopter support, drones, machine guns, etc coming after the good guy. So, in a way, cops ruin society. If punks were met with swift retribution, they would behave way different. But, if they know they will be protected from the public, they are emboldened. Fact.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:50pm

    This kind of stuff happens all the time now:

    ———————————
    Woman wants county to cover $1K hospital bill for cavity search
    By Ashley Meeks
    09/03/2011 12:06:30 AM MDT

    LAS CRUCES – A Las Cruces woman has been charged $1,122 by a local hospital for a forcible body cavity search ordered by the Metro Narcotics Agency that did not turn up any illegal substances.

    She is now asking the county to pay her hospital bill.
    http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_18818776

    Report this comment

    KidCharlemagne  
    • jake-spoon
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:21am

      And they should,if they search your person or property,with or without a warrant, and turn up nothing everything should be returned to the condition it was before the search. If not,then they should be forced to pay for property and personal injury.

      Report this comment

      jake-spoon  
  • Paul
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:42pm

    Never trust a cop…

    For a long time now….

    Report this comment

    Paul  
    • Paul
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:46pm

      To the FEW GOOD ones, I apologize…

      Report this comment

      Paul  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:50pm

      “Never trust a cop”? To do what? Process you properly once you’re a suspect? Or are you seriously alleging some sinister kind of conspiracy? What you sound like is a criminal who was apprehended by those he trusted. Do the crime, do the time. Then, maybe, get new friends.

      Report this comment

      MODEL82A1  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:20am

      When I was young and single I had a few rules for myself when it came to dating. No kissing on the first (and sometimes second) date, never date a guy with prettier hair than mine, and never date a cop.

      I think cops (the good ones) are wonderful and I respect their chosen proffession. I have a very strong personality though and that and cops never seem to mix well.

      Report this comment

      4xeverything  
  • randy
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:31pm

    I’d like to hear the other side of the story before passing judgment.

    Report this comment

    randy  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:04am

      What OTHER side?
      She was charge with nothing,
      She had 2 children in the car.

      Report this comment

      Verceofreason  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:00am

      You will NEVER hear the other side of the story because it will all be kept from the public. What you will hear will be a flat out fabrication. I guarantee you all 5 of them got together real quick, threw down the points to put into their reports and they all marched in lockstep. Just like jack-booted thugs do.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
  • mr.goodvibe
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:30pm

    I can beleive it . I lived in Citrus County for five years, my wife was harassed by a deputy until I called the shift supervisor and threatened a lawsuit or worse. The locals know the some deputies are really dirty. An officer I met personally was at the local race trac store buying blunt wraps, he was off duty at the time. Remember that this is the agency that botched the Jessica Lundsford investigation, they interviewed the perp at his house who was a registered sex offender who lived very close buy and the girl was bound in the closet and was found buried under his porch.

    Report this comment

    mr.goodvibe  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:42pm

      MR. I’ve live in the vicinity of Citrus County for over 20 years. Your story sounds like someone seeking “Victim” status for his reprobate “wife” and himself. If you really want “equal protection under the law”, then OBEY the LAW.

      Report this comment

      MODEL82A1  
    • Old_Warrior
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:11am

      I lived in Marion County, a tiny town called Dunnellon, on the Citrus County Border. I lived there for more than 30 years. I believe you, and I believe the victim in the article. Why? I know how the so-called law is ‘enforced’ out there. I left Florida in 2008 forever. Let us just say that criminals prosper in any environment where the law is worse than gang members. It wasn’t about one or two bad apples in the bin. Out there, it’s about the entire rotten bin corrupting the few good apples who get tossed into the mix every now and then.

      Report this comment

      Old_Warrior  
  • Bruce P.
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:28pm

    Let’s see the dash-cam, let’s see the evidence.

    Report this comment

    Bruce P.  
    • Diane TX
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:46pm

      tsk tsk – You naughty boy.

      Report this comment

      Diane TX  
    • BryanB
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:13am

      @Bruce P.

      Where I live at in Florida, a Law Enforcement Officer was fired and lost his State Certification, for per-jury, false report, false arrest and misuse of public office.

      And it wasn’t caught on the Dash Cam..

      It was all captured on a Convenient Store and Bank Security Cameras. The officer didn’t know about it untill he got on the stand in court, and the Judge stoped the Trial………

      Report this comment

      BryanB  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:13am

      I bet like most other times, they’ll claim the dash cam “malfunctioned” and the tape isn’t able to be viewed.

      Ironic how the dash cams are for both “The police officers and our safety” yet a lot of times when we want to use that cam to show how we weren’t safe, they were turned off or malfunctioning.

      I won’t trust a cop who doesn’t want to be filmed by a camera that they don’t have control over.

      Report this comment

      ModerationIsBest  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:26am

      DIANE — darn it, that’s not what I meant. I meant right now it is just her word against the department’s.

      Report this comment

      Bruce P.  
    • mecanic
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:37pm

      idiot.

      Report this comment

      mecanic  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:22pm

    …
    The officer yanked Tarantino out of her car and handcuffed her while wielding a gun, refusing to explain why she’d been stopped.
    Tarantino was then tossed into the back of the squad car.

    Tarantino was strip-searched in front of her children and in full view of the road, during which the female officer pulled out her tampon.

    This whole thing was so disgusting and SO WRONG, on every level.
    This kind of behavior is why so many people do not trust police officers.

    Report this comment

    LeadNotFollow  
    • marine249
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:35pm

      if you fall for b.o., you will fall for anything.
      LOOKS LIKE YOU DID.

      Report this comment

      marine249  
    • Verceofreason
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:06am

      Give us your theory, marine.

      Report this comment

      Verceofreason  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:26am

      The Marines that I know smash tyrants faces, they don’t defend them.

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
    • deeberj
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:09pm

      I’ll give a theory. The woman DID do something wrong that caused her to be pulled over. Maybe like swerving or crossing over the line, appearing to be imparied. She got so belligerant and crazy (from PMS) when the cop stopped her that he called for backup. It’s a small town so the cops are bored because they don’t have much to do, so they all showed up. She was acting so insane they were just positive she had drugs on her, hence the search by the female officer.It’s a small town and the one drug sniffing dog was out of town. She was searched at the station but it’s a better story if she was searched at the site with her kids watching.

      That’s my theory.

      She did get some sort of citation. We don’t know what it is.

      I know policemen do not always act right. They have a bit too much power in our new America.

      So who knows what really happened? Not me so I can’t decide who did what wrong.

      Report this comment

      deeberj  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:16pm

    Give me a flipping break, there is so little of this story that passes the logical conclusion test. So I am to believe that 5 additional cars were called because it was her time of the month and apparently for no other reason? Really???

    And for all you cop haters – don’t bother. I am not sure where you live (and frankly I don’t care – move – just not to my state – or vote in better officials). The police officers I know are fabulous, and professional (and anybody but Obama voters) but then again, I am not in a union-corrupted state…

    Report this comment

    kaydeebeau  
    • lordjosh
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:45am

      I know good people who are cops also. However, if your a cop you are a revenue agent. You must arrest people for victimless crimes so that the state may victimize them. There is something wrong with people who do such things even if they are otherwise good.

      Report this comment

      lordjosh  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 11:28am

      Married to a cop huh Kay?

      Report this comment

      Mil-Dot  
    • Fenrirsulfr
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:33pm

      Been pulled over for “Looking Suspicious” 6 cops cars, check, tore my car up, check, 2 hours in the back of a cop car, check, slapped around for proclaiming my innocence, double check.

      To this day, I don’t hate the police, but I’ll never trust them.

      Report this comment

      Fenrirsulfr  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:12pm

    I believe it…this is Florida we’re talking about here:

    —————————–
    UNFIT FOR DUTY
    SPECIAL REPORT: How Florida’s problem officers remain on the job
    Part 2: Despite ‘moral character violations’ — allegations of violence, drugs, theft and forcible sex — Florida officers keep their badges
    Sunday, December 4, 2011 at 1:00 a.m.

    Thousands of Florida officers remain on the job despite arrests or evidence implicating them in crimes that could have landed them in prison, a Herald-Tribune investigation has found.
    http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20111204/ARTICLE/111209980/2416/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg&tc=ar

    Report this comment

    KidCharlemagne  
    • Cesium
      Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:26pm

      I believe it because it’s Florida too.. All the stupidest Americans are concentrated in Florida. Florida is a melting pot for stupid.

      Report this comment

      Cesium  
  • Grahame
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:10pm

    Mytheos Holt,

    Really? REALLY? I mean come on. I’m lost for words here. No other side reported? Just a report of a lawsuit? What is this doing on The Blaze?

    Report this comment

    Grahame  
    • Lowflyin Lolana
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:14am

      If there’s another side, it will come out. There may not be. There is the lawsuit posted online for you to view.
      It’s definitely worth reporting.
      If this happened, it’s disgusting. I’ve seen enough disgusting behavior from police since the Occupy demonstrations started, and their “side” of the story is that the demonstrators are violent hippies. Sort of like Scott Olsen who fought for his country twice in Iraq and nearly got killed with a projectile to the head in Oakland while he demonstrated against the war.
      Good cops are the best.
      But they are not always the ones running the department.

      Report this comment

      Lowflyin Lolana  
    • TRUTHandFREEDOM
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 5:37am

      Occupiers were acting as degenerates. Need I list all that was taking place at occupy events? How about a few highlights? Cops were threatened. Polce car deficated on. Bricks and Bibles thrown from the roof. A hot dog cart attacked with bottles of urine after the free hot dogs ran out. Pedestrian traffic to businesses were blocked. Street traffic was blocked. Flyers announcing plans to damage property were on the web and printed. There is a lot more. Now compare that to police activity around the TEA Party events. Massive numbers of people gathering, acting responsibly and police were just there to keep traffic moving and guard against anything threateneing in nature, which only would have come from ACORN, Union thugs and other leftist “activists”. The Police were welcomed and appreciated at TEA Party events.

      In this woman’s case, we have an accusation. That is all. There HAS to be more to this story. Let’s wait before we pass judgement!!

      Report this comment

      TRUTHandFREEDOM  
    • bitterclinger
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:33am

      Well, it’s certainly newsworthy as well as disgusting. You’re not hearing the cops’ side yet because it’s going to court. We’ll hear more (unless it’s settled) about it; you can be sure.

      Report this comment

      bitterclinger  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:10pm

    Cuppa tea anyone? :)=

    Report this comment

    JACKTHETOAD  
  • WatchingThePuppetShow
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:06pm

    That’s a bloody shame….

    Report this comment

    WatchingThePuppetShow  
  • NOT A CRAZY
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:05pm

    This nation is losing it.

    Report this comment

    NOT A CRAZY  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:04pm

    They need to tell her, those don’t go in her mouth.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:30am

      Dang, after reading all of those comments above and taking this seriously. Then I got to your comment. Good thing I keep a roll of paper towels and bottle of Windex near the computer. At least it’s just black coffee this morning.
      I’m still laughing at that one. From the late ’70s I’ve carried at least four Tampons in a plastic case on my service belt. Was taught back then to use them for bullet wounds. Good thing that I never had to use them.

      Report this comment

      RJJinGadsden  
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