Plaintiff Alleges Local Law Enforcement Violated Constitutional Rights

A Wisconsin resident alleges that his constitutional rights were violated by local law enforcement in a dramatic confrontation outside his workplace. Joshua R. Thompson filed a complaint on February 10, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin against Sheboygan County, Kevin Armstrong, John Doe, and the Village of Saukville.

According to the lawsuit, on October 19, 2025, Thompson was standing outside the Belgium Inn and Suites—his home and workplace—when he noticed police officers gathering nearby. Among them was Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Armstrong, who questioned Thompson about a fleeing suspect. Despite maintaining his distance and recording the scene with his phone, Thompson claims Armstrong unlawfully detained him without cause. “You’re gonna go to jail if you don’t get over there,” Armstrong allegedly threatened before forcibly handcuffing Thompson with assistance from an unidentified Village of Saukville officer referred to as John Doe in the complaint.

Thompson accuses both officers of violating his Fourth Amendment rights by seizing him without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The complaint further asserts that their actions were retaliatory due to Thompson exercising his First Amendment right to record law enforcement activities. The legal filing argues that neither officer had a warrant or lawful justification for arresting Thompson and highlights their failure to intervene in each other’s alleged misconduct.

The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, and reputational harm suffered during the incident. Additionally, he demands punitive damages against Armstrong and Doe for acting “maliciously” and “oppressively.” Thompson also requests indemnification from Sheboygan County and the Village of Saukville under Wisconsin state law requiring public entities to cover tort judgments against employees acting within their employment scope.

Represented by attorneys John H. Bradley, R. Rick Resch, and Jacob A. Idlas from Strang Bradley LLC based in Madison, Wisconsin, Thompson’s case is set before Judge Pamela Pepper under Case No: 2:26-cv-219.