Drugs found in suspect's butt

[News Flash]

SARASOTA - A man who filed a complaint after police strip-searched him in public last month was arrested Thursday and searched again.
Barry Mitchell filed a complaint last month after a officer looking for drugs pulled down his pants in public.

Last time, officers searched Barry Mitchell and pulled down his pants on a street corner, finding nothing.

On Thursday, the officers searched him at the Sarasota County jail and found drugs tucked between his buttocks, police say.

Undercover officers had arrested Mitchell, saying they caught him peddling crack cocaine.

Mitchell, 22, was arrested on warrants in the 1500 block of 24th Street. Officers checked his outer clothing, found nothing, and took him to jail.

Once he was there, jail officials took him in a private room to perform the strip search. They found a red pill container, authorities say.

Mitchell had filed a complaint against several officers in early September, saying his pants were pulled down and an officer, Sgt. Joseph Stiff, touched his buttocks looking for drugs. Schoolchildren and other residents made fun of Mitchell later as he walked away.

Florida law prohibits strip searches in public. Searches are supposed to occur in private and no one other than law enforcement officers is allowed to be present. In most cases, experts say, police take drug suspects to jail or an interrogation room to conduct the search.

Department officials would not say whether Stiff or any other officer is being investigated by internal affairs. Internal inquiries do not become public record until they are completed.

"The arrest would have no bearing on his complaint because it happened after the complaint was filed," said Capt. Stan Duncan.

Barry Mitchell filed a complaint last month after a officer looking for drugs pulled down his pants in public. Here is is booking photo:

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