Law Firm Files Law Suit against Two Maryland Transit Administration Police Officers
“Corruption in the agencies charged with enforcing our laws not only threatens communities by allowing dangerous criminals to roam free, it also undermines the confidence of our citizens in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. The same is true with respect to judicial corruption. We must all, in our own countries, lead the fight to ensure integrity within our police and judicial systems.” (Former United States Attorney General John D. Ashcroft, in remarks to the Second Global Forum on Fighting Corruption)
Baltimore, Maryland– The firm has filed a multi-million dollar suit against the Maryland Transit Administration (“MTA”), MTA Police Officers’ Neisha L. Brown, Raquel Bailey-Harrison and Sergeant Neile Hicks, for violating our client’s civil rights, including, assualt and battery, false arrest and violations of Federal civil rights laws. The Complaint alleges that on April 19, 2013, our client was seated on the subway platform of the Rogers Station in Baltimore City, with her ear phones on listening to music on her cell phone. Our client’s cell phone began to ring indicating she was receiving a text message. Our client’s ring tone was a popular song that plays until she completes a response to the text message. Our client proceeded to respond to the text message when she noticed Defendant Raquel Harrison-Bailey standing directly in front of her. Our client removed one of the ear pieces and asked the Defendant if she could help her. Defendant Harrison-Bailey, said it was against the law to play music without head phones and there was signage stating as much. Defendant Harrison-Bailey, insisted that our client turn off her phone. Our client declined and requested that Defendant Harrison-Bailey, call a supervisor. Defendant Harrison-Bailey declined to do so. Our client called 911 and reported the harassing conduct of Defendant Harrison-Bailey.. Defendant Harrison-Bailey proceeded to place our client under arrest by grabbing her by her sweatshirt hoody and twisting it around her neck. Subsequently, Defendant Brown arrived and aided Defendant Harrison-Bailey with the unlawful arrest of our client.
The Complaint further alleges that, after being placed in custody, our client’s clothing was in disarray and her breast and stomach were exposed. Our client requested the Defendants’ to fix her clothing before removing her from the subway platform. Defendants’ refused and walked our client thru the station with her private areas exposed to the general public. Three (3) female officers, including the Defendants’, escorted our client to the bathroom to apparently fix her clothing, which merely needed to be pulled down to cover her private areas. Defendants’ pushed our client thru the turnstile took her into the women’s bathroom and accosted her, first by tripping her to the floor, punching her in the face and back of the neck and head, stomping and jumping on her leg and ankle. Our client was subsequently criminally charged with, Disorderly Conduct, Failure to Obey Lawful Order of Law Enforcement Officer and Resisting Arrest. On September 16, 2013, the case went to trial in the District Court for Baltimore City.
On December 31, 2015, the firm filed a multi-million dollar civil rights suit in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City on behalf of our client. Attorney Kim Parker will prosecute the case.
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