Home Searched, Husband Arrested, Charges Dropped, Reputation Damaged, Looking For Direction. What Options Do We Have?

Location: Indiana

Hi all,
I am looking for guidance on possible next steps after a long and traumatic situation involving my home, my husband, and our local police department.

Background:
I’m a nurse, and my husband is the volunteer director of a long-running community program that supports vulnerable individuals. He’s worked in the community for over 16 years.

On 11/30/2022, the local police department conducted a trash pull at our home, claiming “historical complaints.” When we later submitted a records request, no complaints of any kind existed regarding our address or any resident. My husband is not on the deed or mortgage—our home is in my name only. I was never contacted by police or accused of anything.

Search & Arrest:
A search warrant was issued and executed on 12/1/22. Officers broke down our door, damaged our home, terrified our animals, and arrested my husband. I was at work and he was in a meeting at the time. An officer went to where he was (they know where he works) and told him he needs to go home because they were searching his house. They didn't have to break the door down. He was held overnight with no charges, then released on his own recognizance on 12/2. Charges weren’t filed until 12/7/22—including maintaining a common nuisance, dealing marijuana, possession, and later even more charges like manufacturing/distribution.

A news crew was present during the search, which contributed to immediate and very public damage to our reputations. The affidavit for the warrant also named my brother-in-law, who had passed away a decade earlier.

Court Proceedings:
For nearly two years, court dates were repeatedly continued or delayed. The case changed hands at least 4 times to different prosecutors. They pushed for plea deals, but my husband refused because we knew no evidence supported the charges.

On 7/19/24, during a suppression hearing, video evidence and testimony showed that the officer who obtained the warrant had provided false or inadequate information to the judge.
On 9/3/24, the court granted the motion to suppress.
On 10/7/24, the entire case was dismissed without prejudice.

Harm Done:
Despite the dismissal, the damage has been enormous:

• Donors withdrew funding from my husband’s community program, believing the accusations.
• I have been denied promotions because of the charges associated with my home address.
• Our personal reputations and his program’s reputation have suffered severe, likely permanent harm.

There is also long-standing tension between my husband and certain members of the police/sheriff’s department due to his public criticism of how they treat vulnerable populations. We also have a history of issues with the officer who is now the Chief of Police and lives across the street. I won’t claim motive, but the circumstances feel targeted.

The Issue Now:
We have been trying for months to find a civil attorney willing to take on a case involving the local police department and sheriff’s office (possible civil rights violations, unlawful search and seizure, reputational and economic harm), but we haven’t been able to get any attorney to take it on.

My Questions:

• What type of attorney or firm handles cases like this?
• Are there Indiana or federal civil rights organizations, legal clinics, or firms known for taking on police misconduct cases?
• Is there a time limit for filing civil claims after the criminal case was dismissed?
• What steps should we take now to keep our options open?

Any guidance, even just where to start, would be hugely appreciated.