Reid Sagehorn, a student, athlete and community member in Rogers, is now suing his former school, the Elk River School District and the Rogers Police Chief, among others, according to documents filed in United States District Court this week.
KARE 11 television, an NBC affiliate in the Twin Cities, reports Sagehorn, who completed some of his senior year at St. Michael-Albertville High School after the controversy erupted at Rogers High School in January, is suing for monetary damages and relief, saying those who worked to suspend and, ultimately, expel him from RHS violated his constitutional rights and defamed him.
Sagehorn is asking, according to the report, that any references to a suspension or expulsion handed down by the district be expunged from his student record. He’s also asking RHS to amend its policies on social media, among other things, so other students won’t suffer his fate.
Sagehorn was called out on a website message board called “Rogers Confessions” (since removed) for tweeting that he had “Actually, Yeah” made out with a RHS physical education teacher, who has since resigned.
Principal Roman Pierskala was alerted of the tweet by a “concerned parent,” and a meeting was held with Sagehorn and a Rogers Police Officer.
Sagehorn was initially suspended five days for “causing damage to a teacher’s reputation,” KARE reports. That was extended to 10 days, and then Sagehorn was expelled when the controversy rose to the top of the school district in Elk River (Rogers High is part of District 728).
Sagehorn’s attorneys are requesting a jury trial, stating the controversy has “forever” linked his name to this activity, violated his rights to privacy and free speech and limited his future educational and occupational decisions.
The Rogers Police Chief, who is named in the case, initially stated Sagehorn “could be charged with a felony” for the tweet/thread on ask.fm