Lawsuit accuses Portage County Sheriff and deputies of false drug arrest

Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski and three deputies are being sued by two men who say they were falsely arrested for possession and trafficking of cocaine on August 29, 2023.

The lawsuit claims that the substance purported to be cocaine was actually baking soda sprinkled on the carpet to combat a moisture issue in the vehicle. It further says that deputies ignored a negative reading of their field test kit, instead reporting that the substance tested positive for cocaine.

Based on the falsified field test, the men were both arrested and jailed for multiple weeks while sorting out their $75,000 bonds. Because of the arrest and pretrial detention, both men lost their jobs and had difficulty finding new jobs.