Indiana State Police Trooper sued after asking motorist whether she accepted Jesus as her savior

 (Photo: Dave Edmonds)

An Indiana State Police Trooper is being sued by a woman who claims he pulled her over for an alleged traffic violation and then proceeded to ask her about her faith.

Ellen Bogan has filed a lawsuit in a federal court against trooper Brian Hamilton after the alleged incident in Union County in August, The Indianapolis Star reports.

She claims that after he pulled her over on U.S. 27 and handed her a warning ticket, Hamilton then asked her whether she had a home church and accepted Jesus as her savior. 

Hamilton then gave her a pamphlet from the First Baptist Church in Cambridge City which asked the recipient to acknowledge they were a sinner.

Bogan, 60, told The Indianapolis Star: "It's completely out of line and it just - it took me aback."

She said that she had felt unable to refuse the questioning because he was a trooper and his police car was parked behind hers.

"The whole time, his lights were on," Bogan said.  "I had no reason to believe I could just pull away at that point, even though I had my warning."

She added that she is not affiliated to a church and does not attend but "felt compelled" to say she did "just because I had a state trooper standing at the passenger-side window".

"It was just weird," she said. 

The lawsuit alleges Hamilton's actions violated Bogan's First and Fourth Amendment rights.

News
Primary school in area where just 1% are Muslim cancels Easter service for diversity reasons
Primary school in area where just 1% are Muslim cancels Easter service for diversity reasons

A school in Eastleigh has cancelled its Easter service for diversity reasons.

'Very sad day' as Isle of Man becomes first part of British Isles to legalise assisted suicide
'Very sad day' as Isle of Man becomes first part of British Isles to legalise assisted suicide

Campaigners supporting improved palliative care have voiced their sadness after the Isle of Man parliament approved a draft bill to legalise assisted suicide.

Wet feet: Taking the first step of faith
Wet feet: Taking the first step of faith

Faith is often accompanied by uncertainty, yet it is in stepping forward that we encounter the power of God. The Israelites learned this at the Jordan River, where God performed a miracle only after they demonstrated obedience. 

When New Year’s Day used to be on 25 March
When New Year’s Day used to be on 25 March

25 March is known as Lady Day, also known as the Annunciation of the Lord, and it used to be the old New Year’s Day.  This is the story …