A recent federal lawsuit claims that law enforcement officers conducted an unreasonable detention, search, and arrest during a routine traffic stop, raising questions about the protection of constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment. The complaint was filed by Antonio Smith in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on March 2, 2026, naming the City of Madison and police officers Anthony Ciufo, Steven Clennon, and Drew Strachota as defendants.
According to court documents submitted by Smith’s attorneys at Strang Bradley, LLC, the incident occurred on August 16, 2024. Smith alleges that he was driving when two City of Madison Police Department officers activated their emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop. The officers reportedly stated they could not read Smith’s temporary license plate displayed in his rear window. However, Smith asserts in his filing that “the temporary license plate was visible and properly displayed.”
The complaint outlines that after pulling him over, officers instructed Smith to exit his vehicle before handcuffing him without consent or apparent legal justification. The document states: “After handcuffing Smith, Defendants searched Smith’s person without his consent.” Following this search, Smith was placed in the back of a squad car while police searched his vehicle. According to the filing, “there was no reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or other legal justification to handcuff Smith in the back of a squad car.”
Smith contends that nothing illegal was found during this initial search. Instead of issuing a citation or warning related to the alleged license plate issue, officers called for a K9 unit to conduct what is described as an extended drug investigation involving a K9 sniff around Smith’s vehicle. Defendant Drew Strachota arrived with the K9 unit for this purpose. The lawsuit claims: “Defendants claim that the K9 positively alerted to Smith’s vehicle,” but counters: “The K9 did not alert.” Despite this assertion from Smith’s side, officers proceeded with another search of his vehicle and again found nothing illegal.
Following these events, officers arrested Smith for operating while intoxicated. He was criminally charged; however, according to the complaint, “the case was dismissed after a Dane County Circuit Court granted Smith’s motion to suppress.” The lawsuit alleges that as a result of these actions by law enforcement officials—Clennon, Ciufo, and Strachota—Smith suffered violations of privacy along with emotional suffering and financial costs.
The legal basis for Smith’s claims centers on several counts under 42 U.S.C. § 1983: unlawful seizure due to lack of reasonable suspicion or probable cause; unlawful search of both person and vehicle without consent or warrant; and unlawful extension of a traffic stop beyond its original purpose without proper justification. In each count detailed within the nine-page filing, it is alleged that defendants acted “in reckless disregard for Plaintiff’s rights.”
Additionally named as defendant is the City of Madison itself—not only as employer but also as indemnitor—based on Wisconsin Statute § 895.46 which requires public entities to pay any tort judgment resulting from acts performed within scope of employment by their employees.
Smith seeks actual or compensatory damages against all individually named defendants along with punitive damages due to what he describes as reckless disregard for his rights. He also requests coverage for costs associated with bringing forth this action—including attorneys’ fees—and any further relief deemed just by the court.
The plaintiff has demanded trial by jury on all issues so triable under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 38(b). Attorneys representing Antonio Smith are John H. Bradley (Wisconsin Bar No. 1053124), R. Rick Resch (Wisconsin Bar No. 1117722), and Jacob A. Idlas (Wisconsin Bar No. 1078457) from Strang Bradley LLC based in Madison.
This case is identified as Case No: 3:26-cv-179.
Source: 326cv00179_Smith_v_City_of_Madison_Complaint_Western_District_Wisconsin.pdf
