Lawsuit dismissed: Judge finds Rolesville town manager did not violate rights of former police chief

A lawsuit alleging misbehavior in the firing of Rolesville chief of police has been dismissed, the town announced on Wednesday.

Former Police Chief Orlando Soto sued the town, alleging workplace harassment and hostility from the town's leadership, especially then-Town Manager Kelly Arnold. Soto claimed he had been mistreated in comparison to his non-Hispanic colleagues.

Judge James C. Dever III, of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, ruled in favor of the town.

In 2018, shortly after he was hired, Soto filed a grievance against the town and Arnold, but it was denied. He appealed the decision and was finally awarded back pay and a pay increase in 2019.

Soto’s lawsuit also alleges that Arnold paid unnecessary visits to the police department , and that Soto felt harassed by Arnold's "unwarranted, frequent and intimidating behavior."

According to the lawsuit, the culmination of Arnold's unrelenting harassment led to Soto’s resignation. He took over as deputy chief of police in Knightdale in November 2020, and filed suit against his former employer in 2023.

In November 2023, under the shadow of Soto's suit, Arnold resigned as Rolesville town manager.