A civil rights complaint by the founder of a Clearfield County horse sanctuary against a Pennsylvania State trooper has dropped a civil charge of malicious prosecution but still maintains the trooper violated her Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure and false arrest.

Forgotten Hearts Horse Sanctuary founder Lana Hubler-Thompson’s Philadelphia attorney Dylan T. Hastings filed the amended complaint Wednesday in the federal district court in Johnstown.

The new complaint came on the heels of a defense petition filed last Monday, which claimed the malicious prosecution charge against Trooper Austin Woolcock, stationed at the Woodland Barracks in Clearfield County, could not stand because Hubler-Thompson, although handcuffed and taken to state police headquarters after a traffic stop in June 2023, was never charged with a crime and eventually was released from custody.

Woolcock, represented by Deputy Attorney General Joan E. Owhe, argued that the malicious prosecution charge “cannot establish any of the prongs of the malicious prosecution standard because (Hubler-Thompson) was never charged with any crime arising from the alleged arrest.

No criminal proceedings were ever initiated against (her) and no charges were ever filed,” the defense petition stated.

The defense pointed out that there are five prongs that must be met to establish a malicious prosecution charge, including: that a criminal proceeding was initiated; it ended in favor of the plaintiff; the proceeding was initiated without probable cause; the defendants acted for a purpose other than bringing a person to justice; and the plaintiff suffered deprivation of liberty.

The defense counsel contended the lawsuit did not meet any of those requirements.

Hastings, in his amended complaint, still contends that Hubler-Thompson’s Fourth Amendment protections against unlawful search and seizure and false arrest should move forward.

Hubler-Thompson operates a sanctuary in Morrisdale, Clearfield County, for horses, donkeys, mules and ponies.

On the night of June 14, 2023, she was hauling a 750-pound bale of hay, approaching a stoplight at Naulton Road and State Road in Curwensville.

The complaint on her behalf indicated the trooper in his vehicle crossed the intersection and then made a U-turn.

When she turned left on State Road, the trooper began to follow her.

After several miles, he conducted a traffic stop, contending that a headlight in her truck was out and that she was traveling at a slow speed.

She maintained her headlight was not malfunctioning, and she explained she was traveling at a slow speed because it was dark, the road was wet and conditions were foggy, her complaint stated.

Hubler-Thompson reported also that she was driving with 750 pounds of hay.

The trooper then asked her to take a walk with him. The complaint stated that he didn’t give a reason.

After the walk, the trooper accused Hubler-Thompson of being under the influence of methamphetamine.

In her complaint, Hubler-Thompson stated she showed no signs of impairment and stated that she never consumed alcohol or drugs in her life.

The trooper initiated a search of her vehicle and belongings seeking evidence of drugs or drug usage.

She was handcuffed and taken to Clearfield Hospital for a blood draw and then taken to the Woodland Barracks, where she was released to her son.

The next week, her arrest was reported in a local newspaper.

That caused her “significant embarrassment, reputational harm and emotional distress,” according to the federal complaint.

In an order issued Thursday, District Judge Stephanie L. Haines ruled that as a result of the amended complaint filed by Hastings, the request by the defense to dismiss the malicious prosecution charge was moot.

Haines, however, has given the defense until May 8 to file its answer to Hubler-Thompson’s charges concerning the alleged Fourth Amendment violations.

The lawsuit asks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney’s fees.