Sussex County Sheriff Jeff Christopher filed suit yesterday against county officials in Superior court alleging that they were attempting to unlawfully strip him of his constitutional right to arrest people.
The Wilmington News Journal reports that the court action comes just hours before legislation that makes it clear sheriffs do not have the power to make arrests made it out of committee.
It is set to be added to today’s House of Representatives agenda.
The lawsuit alleges that the Sussex County Council and County Administrator Todd Lawson have tried to nullify his constitutional authority.
He asked the court to declare him the chief law enforcement officer of Sussex County and bar the Sussex County government from limiting his power to make arrests conduct traffic stops and form posses among other things.
