Minneapolis mayoral candidate Al Flowers on Wednesday sued Hennepin County for its role in a raid last month in which Flowers was ticketed for marijuana possession.

A lawsuit filed by attorney Jill Clark alleges that the county and several members of the Sheriff's Office violated Flowers' constitutional rights and improperly seized items from him in the raid. Flowers alleges that his cell phone and wallet were taken from him and planted by deputies in a room containing marijuana.

The suit asks for damages of more than $50,000, the return of a laptop computer and money, and an injunction of activities that weren't specified. In a news release, Flowers alleges that the seizures were similar to those made by the Metro Gang Strike Force before its search-and-seizure methods came under intense scrutiny and it was disbanded.

In the suit, the 50-year-old Flowers said he did not possess any marijuana during the Sept. 23 raid and had no idea that there was any marijuana in the house. He said he was at the house visiting a friend. He has not entered a plea to the charge.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Lisa Kiava said the county would not comment on pending litigation.

The county's Violent Offenders Task Force raided a France Avenue residence that was occupied by the girlfriend of search warrant target Brandon Wilson. Flowers said that he was visiting the girlfriend. Wilson, identified by authorities as a Crips gang member who has convictions for dealing crack cocaine, was jailed on a possible weapons violation. He has not been charged.

The suit alleges that the Sheriff's Office did not record several items seized from Flowers on a search warrant inventory, hampering his efforts to recover them. In a statement, he characterized the raid as stemming from a lack of oversight by elected officials over police agencies and their politicization. The raid followed law enforcement surveillance on the house.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438