PIEDMONT, Okla., Feb. 12 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma police officer fired for ticketing the mother of a toddler who urinated in public has sued the city of Piedmont for wrongful termination.
Lawyers representing Piedmont, a small city 20 miles northwest of Oklahoma City, filed a motion Monday to transfer the case to federal court, the Oklahoman reported.
Kenneth Qualls, in a complaint filed last year, said that he got clearance from his lieutenant to issue a citation to Ashley Warden after he saw her 3-year-old son dropping his pants in her front yard on Nov. 4, 2012.
He said that Police Chief Alex Oblein was informed about the ticket the day after it was issued but did not give orders to amend or dismiss it.
Qualls said he was fired on Nov. 16 because the ticket had hit the news media.
The city says Qualls acted on his own.
