Inmate Sues Man He's Convicted of Burglarizing

(AP)  A Florida inmate is suing the man he's convicted of burglarizing, claiming the man and two others roughed him up during a citizen's arrest.

Michael Dupree is serving a 12-year sentence for burglary and cocaine possession stemming from a 2007 break-in of a van in St. Petersburg. Dupree allegedly stole a bicycle locked inside and was apprehended after the owner, Anthony McKoy, saw him with the bike down the street.

Dupree says McKoy and two others pointed a gun at him, handcuffed him and placed a knee painfully in his back. He's seeking $500,000 for disabilities and distress suffered during the takedown.

Dupree filed the civil lawsuit on his own, without the help of an attorney.

After being served with the suit, McKoy said, "I thought it was a joke. I'm the victim."

[cac1958]

What nonsense!!! This is what catering to criminals has lead to. They feel like they have all the rights and the victims have none. China would probably shoot him just for being arrogant!

[DidHeSayThat]

this is why you cannot harm the criminal... you must kill him... otherwise they come back in one way or another. self-defense if the only defense you have against the ACLU.

[philmass]

what a joke, he is very fortunate that was all that happened to him!

[mrsherman]

I'm a liberal, and I think that ANY judge that does anything other than throw this suit out of court should be liberally flogged! ;-)

[omnibus66]

Mr Dupree has the right to file any lawsuit he wishes, as do all of us. That is how the system is set up, that is the constitutional guarantee of access to the courts. However, this particular lawsuit is, on its face, clearly frivolous in nature, and stands about a 0.2% chance of being heard by a judge.

But it makes good news copy, especially on a slow news day.

[get_down]

"Burglary and cocaine possession" and for that only received 12-year sentence? Wow, I'll call that a big break for this perpetrator - a.k.a. Michael Dupree. Now he's filed a frivolous civil lawsuit seeking $500,000 for disabilities and distress suffered during the citizen's arrest from the victim? I consider Mr. Dupree is very laughable. Does he even aware of why he's in jail in the first place? Sure, if I'm one of the jurors - I might think he'll deserve some money - a big fat check of zero!

[rwsmith29456]

Then he should have stolen anything.

[formrusmcsgt]

Reminds me of a case a few years ago of a car thief who stole a car with bad brakes and tried to sue the owner for injuries after he crashed the stolen car...

[askagain]

When is the last time so many of agreed on the same thing?

[nojoy01]

"Dupree says McKoy and two others pointed a gun at him, handcuffed him and placed a knee painfully in his back. He's seeking $500,000 for disabilities and distress suffered during the takedown."
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Another "jailhouse lawyer" is born. I suggest McKoy counter sue for the emotional distress he suffered for actually having to touch this slimey excuse of a person while detaining him.