JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — The City of Jacksonville resolved a lawsuit on Tuesday regarding allegations that police unlawfully detained the director of the Jacksonville Treatment Center in August 2023.

The legal dispute arose after plaintiff Jeffery Jones, a certified substance abuse counselor, alleged that officers unlawfully entered the facility and pursued baseless criminal charges against him.

Jones was the Director of the Jacksonville Treatment Center in Jacksonville, a federally certified opioid-treatment center that provides treatment to individuals with opioid use disorder, and is subject to federal confidentiality requirements governing patient information.

Back on August 16, 2023, Ryan Kent and Taylor Rutter, officers with the Jacksonville Police Department, went to the Center seeking an individual referred to here as “Jane Doe.”

Officer Kent and Officer Rutter had an arrest warrant for Jane Doe based on an alleged probation violation. But the officers did not have a search warrant or a Part 2 court order authorizing entry into the Center or disclosure of patient-identifying information, so staff at the Center declined to unlock the door.

The two officers entered the building at approximately 8:17 a.m. without permission as a patient exited the Center. That’s when Jones encountered Kent and Rutter inside the lobby. Jones told them that the Center was a closed facility, that they needed to leave the facility, that their presence might prevent the Center’s patients from receiving treatment, and that they should not be present anywhere on the property.

The court documents said the officers refused to leave the Center’s property. Instead, they stepped out to the parking lot with Jones and asked him whether Jane Doe was present inside the Center receiving treatment. Jones did not confirm or deny the information and explained the federal regulations governing drug treatment centers prohibited him from disclosing that information.

Jones asked the officers to leave the property while he looked into their request. He told them that officers could wait in the street, but that they could not wait in the Center’s parking lot or building. The officers ignored Jones, remained in the parking lot, and requested additional officers for backup.

After Jones went inside, Kent and Rutter’s supervisor, defendant Lieutenant Joshua Porter, arrived at the Center along with Defendant Jaquan Brigman

Porter, Kent, Rutter, and Brigman entered the Center together, without permission. Jones again approached the officers in the Center’s lobby and told them they needed to leave. The officers did not leave. They told Jones that they would search the facility if he did not produce Jane Doe. Defendant Porter threatened to seal the building off with police tape.

At approximately 8:45 a.m., Jones was placed in handcuffs while he was inside his office. Jones was then escorted outside to their police vehicles and detained for approximately fifteen minutes.

While Jones was detained, other officers entered the Center without permission, located Jane Doe, removed her from a treatment session, and arrested her.

After Jane Doe was taken into custody, the officers removed Jones’ handcuffs
and allowed him to return inside the Center.

According to a press release from Jacksonville, the City agreed to resolve the matter on negotiated terms following discussions among counsel for the parties and the City’s liability insurer.

The City said the settlement isn’t an admission of liability, but it reflects a judgment that resolution of the case serves Jacksonville’s taxpayers, employees, and residents.

“The City takes seriously its obligations under federal law and the Constitution in every interaction between our Police Department and the people we serve,” said Joshua Ray, City Manager. “We respect the work of treatment professionals in Jacksonville and the patients they care for. The Department’s leadership has strengthened training in this area, and that work continues.”

Jones agreed to dismiss his lawsuit with prejudice upon receipt of $550,000 from the City to the NC League of Municipalities, with the City of Jacksonville reimbursing the League for a portion of that compensation in the amount of $216,666.50.

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