Lexington residents settle federal lawsuits over police misconduct
Lexington residents and visitors have settled federal lawsuits against the city’s police department and former police chiefs, alleging a pattern of misconduct including excessive force, unlawful searches, retaliatory arrests, and detentions without due process, the ACLU of Mississippi announced Monday.
The settlement amounts were not disclosed, and the ACLU said the deal involved no admission of liability or wrongdoing by the defendants. The lawsuits targeted the city, the police department, several officers, and former police chiefs Sam Dobbins and Charles Henderson.
Joshua Tom, legal director at the ACLU of Mississippi, said the settlement helps balance law enforcement and constitutional rights. “This settlement helps achieve that balance for the LPD, our clients and the residents of Lexington,” he said in a statement.
Among the plaintiffs, Deborah Powell alleged in a 2024 lawsuit that Lexington officers threw her to the ground and jailed her for days after she attempted to obtain a court-ordered reimbursement from the police. Javarius Russell, also a law enforcement officer, claimed in a 2023 lawsuit that he was wrongfully arrested over a vehicle crash that did not occur and was jailed over a long weekend. Former Chief Dobbins told him he could be released if he paid $2,700, court records show.
Another plaintiff, Andrial Young, filed a 2024 lawsuit alleging officers stopped his car, claiming he failed to wear a seatbelt, despite evidence he was wearing one. Officers reportedly smelled marijuana, sought to search his vehicle, but he declined. Nonetheless, officers searched his car without a warrant and arrested him, detaining him for hours.
The plaintiffs expressed some satisfaction with the settlement. Young said he hopes it leads to improved policing in Lexington. Dobbins was Lexington’s chief until his 2022 firing amid allegations of racist and homophobic language and boastful comments about killing people while working as an officer. Henderson succeeded him but had his certification suspended earlier this year due to a violation of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics during his time with the Jackson Police Department.
Lexington has undergone leadership changes, including interim chiefs, before hiring David Simmons in May. The U.S. Department of Justice in 2023 launched a pattern and practice investigation into Lexington police, finding violations of the First, Fourth, and 14th Amendments and a “two-tiered system of justice” related to unpaid fines.
The Lexington Board of Aldermen has adopted some DOJ recommendations, such as requiring clear authority, training, and record-keeping for officers involved in stops and searches. The ACLU of Mississippi partnered with law firms Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, O’Melveny & Myers, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, which provided pro bono legal support for the lawsuits.
Craig C. Martin, lead counsel for Willkie, praised the plaintiffs’ bravery and the legal team’s efforts. The lawsuits are part of the ACLU of Mississippi’s Police Accountability Initiative, which addresses police violence, racial discrimination, and unconstitutional practices statewide. The organization said it will continue advocating for police reform and supporting communities impacted by unconstitutional policing.
Source: Original Article
