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Washington – Natalie D. Simms was in shock as she stood, hands raised, on the dimly lighted side street in San Antonio, Texas. A police officer looking for drugs had failed to find anything after combing through her pockets – but much to Simms’ horror, the search wasn’t over.

“Spread your legs,” the officer allegedly told Simms.

On August 8, 2016, Simms was subjected to a public vaginal cavity search during which her tampon was pulled out in view of male police officers and others nearby, according to a federal lawsuit filed last year in the Western District of Texas. Simms sued the city of San Antonio and now-retired San Antonio Police Department detective Mara Wilson for unspecified damages, alleging that the act was a “blatant violation” of her constitutional rights, and resulted “in significant and lasting harm.”

“Natalie suffered through a shocking display of what can occur when police power is unchecked,” Dean Malone, an attorney for Simms, told WOAI in 2018. “We intend to seek full damages available under the law and look forward to presenting Natalie’s horrible experience to a jury.”

Now it appears the legal battle may be ending differently than how Malone envisioned. The city is scheduled to vote Thursday on a proposed settlement that would award $205 000 (about R3 million) to Simms, according to an official agenda. Simms and her lawyer have agreed to the sum, the San Antonio Express-News reported, citing a city memo.