Sergeant Sean DrenthPHOENIX (CBS5) -
It's been more than two years since Phoenix Police Sergeant Sean Drenth was found shot to death next to his patrol car near the Capitol. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide, but the controversy and litigation is far from over.
Monday, Judicial Watch, a government watchdog organization, announced a federal lawsuit on behalf of three Phoenix police officers who responded to the scene back in October of 2010. They claim the Phoenix Police Department forced them to submit DNA samples, implicating them in Sergeant Drenth's death and violating their Fourth Amendment rights.
"They had no probable cause to believe our clients were responsible or involved in any way in Officer Drenth's death but they went and took their DNA anyway," said attorney Paul Orfanedes.
The officers said they were never closer than 15 to 30 feet away from Drenth's patrol car, and therefore couldn't be matches for unidentified DNA found in the car. Their attorneys aren't asking for money, just for the DNA and analysis to be destroyed.
The Phoenix Police Department said because of the ongoing litigation, they cannot comment.
Related story: http://www.kpho.com/story/15305718/new-information-on-drenth-death
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