Police pepper-sprayed Manns, and she said that she was manhandled by officers. As part of his investigation, Huber filed FOIA requests for numerous documents on file with the city. Among other things, he asked for the names of every officer against whom a complaint had been filed, or whom the department had investigated on its own. He also asked for the names of every officer against whom a civil or criminal complaint had been filed. Huber also asked for the results of all of these investigations and complaints.
City police refuse request Charleston police refused to provide the documents.
In his February 2000 ruling, MacQueen threw out both arguments. Teare added that citizens should trust the city to investigate and properly punish its own police officers. In briefs filed on behalf of Manns, Huber and WVU law professor Bob Bastress said that established law in West Virginia requires the documents to be released. The records requested by Manns did not fall within either of those, they said. This in turn will bolster the department's credibility with the public and ease tension within the community.