ACLU suit against Etowah sheriffs department settled

Sheriff Todd Entrekin

The American Civil Liberties Union and Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin have reached a settlement in a lawsuit over the sheriff department’s policy of unannounced residence checks of sex offenders. The ACLU settled with the sheriff’s office on Friday. Under the terms of the settlement, deputies will conduct all in-person residence verifications outside a registered sex offender’s home. The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, alleged that the sheriff’s office was searching the plaintiffs’ home without consent during the checks.  Entrekin said the policy change began about one month ago. Entrekin said his office agreed to the settlement only because of their continued ability to confirm the sex offender’s place of residence by in-person verification. The ACLU filed the suit on behalf of a family known only as James, John and Jane Doe. It said James Doe, son of John and Jane, is an Etowah County resident who is required to register as a sex offender and is required to appear quarterly at the sheriff’s office.