“Frivolous” and “untrue” is what Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald is calling accusations mentioned in a recent lawsuit filed against him and six of his deputies.

The lawsuit, filed in federal district court by the Iowa Civil Liberties Union (ICLU), is in reference to an incident that allegedly happened nearly two years ago.

The ICLU claims the lawsuit is being filed because of the apparent mental anguish and humiliation brought on the plaintiff by the alleged incident.

The ICLU is suing the Story County Sheriff’s office on behalf of Robin Kathlene Hill, 35, of Ames, who claims she was strapped completely naked to a wooden board while being held in custody at the Story County Jail.

According to a press release, the woman said after being placed in a cell a male deputy allegedly forced her to remove all her clothing.

She also claims she was later forced to walk naked in front of several male deputies to another room where, allegedly, her hands and feet were strapped to a wooden “door-like contraption” in a spread-eagle fashion.

The lawsuit alleges the woman was left in the room, uncovered, for an undetermined period of time, until a female deputy covered her body.

The suit is asking for special, yet unreleased monetary damages. According to the ICLU, the woman believes the incident, which caused her buttocks, breasts and genitalia to be exposed, was not only demeaning but “smacked of sexual exploitation.”

“This is an extraordinary case,” Ben Stone, executive director of ICLU, said. “Rarely is a lawsuit warranted when a person in jail complains about the treatment he or she has received.”

Stone said ICLU understands that jail personnel have to do their duty and control those that may be in custody, but she said this case, in particular, has undisputed facts that are offensive enough to warrant a proper legal response.

“The ICLU felt compelled to invoke the protections of the Bill of Rights against such inappropriate conduct by agents of our government,” Stone said.

But the Story County Sheriff’s office isn’t buying it and has denied that any of the lawsuit’s accusations ever took place.

In a press release dated March 2, 1998, the Story County Sheriff’s office said it was disappointed in the conduct of ICLU’s attorneys.

Sheriff’s officials said the suit was filed in a way that sensationalizes ICLU’s claims and defames the personnel and office of the Story County Sheriff.

Fitzgerald cited ICLU’s inability to establish complete and accurate facts and called its behavior reckless and irresponsible.

Sheriff’s officials said they do have a restraining board used for out-of-control inmates, but that the board is in compliance with acceptable jail standards.

They also said the restraining board is only used as a last available option to gain control of an unruly inmate, and use of it by deputies would be within acceptable standards.

The Story County Sheriff’s office maintains that all of its employees “are well-trained professionals who take great pride in the performance of their duties and in assisting and protecting the citizens of Story County.”

Fitzgerald and deputies Kevin McKinley, Michael Miller, Timothy Schoppe, Barry Thomas, Jennifer Holmes and another unidentified female deputy are all named as defendants in the ICLU’s lawsuit.

“The frivolous accusations presented in this complaint are untrue,” Fitzgerald said. “We look forward to our day in court, and the true facts of this case being presented to a judge and jury.”