Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Yakima Man Arrested By Yakima Police

A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a man who claimed Yakima police arrested him during a traffic stop in retaliation for exercising his free speech rights.

The 2-1 ruling Friday by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reverses a lower court decision and orders the case for trial.

Eddie Ford stepped out of his vehicle and argued with officers while being stopped for a noise ordinance violation on July 17, 2007. He ultimately returned to his vehicle and kept quiet after the officer warned he would be arrested if he didn't cooperate.

But officers arrested him anyway, telling Ford his mouth and attitude had talked him into jail.