Posted on Sep 10, 2022
A Black pastor sues the police who arrested him while watering his neighbors' flowers
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https://www.npr.org/2022/09/10/ [login to see] /black-pastor-watering-flowers-alabama-lawsuit
Michael Jennings, the Black pastor arrested while watering His Neighbor's Flowers, has filed a federal lawsuit against the police officers involved in his detainment.
The lawsuit also names the city of Childersburg, which oversees the police department that arrested Jennings, as a defendant.
Jennings, a longtime pastor at Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Ala., is represented by national civil rights attorney, Harry Daniels, and attorneys Bethaney Embry Jones, Joi Travis and Roderick Van Daniels. They hosted a news conference Saturday with the Alabama NAACP to discuss the case.
"I'm here for accountability, and I'm here for justice," Jennings said.
The lawsuit says Jennings is suffering with emotional distress and "significant PTSD type symptoms" that include nightmares and flashbacks.
He is asking for a jury to hear the case and to determine compensatory and punitive damages as well as money to cover the costs of the lawsuit, including attorneys' fees.
Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton said in a statement to NPR that there are concerns about the officers' training.
Michael Jennings, the Black pastor arrested while watering His Neighbor's Flowers, has filed a federal lawsuit against the police officers involved in his detainment.
The lawsuit also names the city of Childersburg, which oversees the police department that arrested Jennings, as a defendant.
Jennings, a longtime pastor at Vision of Abundant Life Church in Sylacauga, Ala., is represented by national civil rights attorney, Harry Daniels, and attorneys Bethaney Embry Jones, Joi Travis and Roderick Van Daniels. They hosted a news conference Saturday with the Alabama NAACP to discuss the case.
"I'm here for accountability, and I'm here for justice," Jennings said.
The lawsuit says Jennings is suffering with emotional distress and "significant PTSD type symptoms" that include nightmares and flashbacks.
He is asking for a jury to hear the case and to determine compensatory and punitive damages as well as money to cover the costs of the lawsuit, including attorneys' fees.
Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton said in a statement to NPR that there are concerns about the officers' training.
A Black pastor sues the police who arrested him while watering his neighbors' flowers
Posted from npr.org
Childersburg
Police
Law Enforcement
Lawsuit
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"Jennings, a former police officer himself, is seen on video placed in handcuffs for not providing the officers with his identification."
I'm not defending the police, but they asked for identification and Jennings refused to provide this which could have substantiated his story that he was a neighbor. This quite possibly could have deescalated the situation. Just saying.
"Jennings, a former police officer himself, is seen on video placed in handcuffs for not providing the officers with his identification."
I'm not defending the police, but they asked for identification and Jennings refused to provide this which could have substantiated his story that he was a neighbor. This quite possibly could have deescalated the situation. Just saying.
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