Osage Beach Police Officer Cleared in Excessive Force Suit

A federal jury has cleared Osage Beach Police Officer Sam Ford in a civil suit charging he used excessive force in breaking up a April 6, 2010 physical altercation between two lake-area residents – Eric Hauser and Robert Taggert – outside of Woody’s bar. Hauser sued the officer, seeking $1 million in damages. The city of Osage Beach and the late Chief of Police Dave Severson were also named as defendants in the suit. They were also cleared.