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Stephen Alexander ate after night shift as a special police officer at the Qatar embassy in 2018 when a Maryland police officer depicted with a taser approached him and demanded that he qualify. I was walking home with my goods.
When Alexander refused, the policeman pointed his firearm at him and demanded that he land on the ground. According to a proceeding by the Atlanta Black Star, when he landed on the ground, police officers sprayed Alexander with pepper spray before putting him in handcuffs.
As a result, Alexander lost his job, had to fight criminal accusations, and suffered years of mental distress, his lawyer said. He has sued police and police officers of the Maryland National Capital Park Planning Commission for violating his rights and using excessive force.
One of Alexander’s lawyers, Hannah Naro, said her client had post-traumatic stress, which she calls a “life-and-death scenario.”
“This incident really only changed the course of Stephen’s life,” Naro said. “He’s having a lot of trouble talking about how executives actually almost died. A few years ago, now it seems like the day has just happened to talk to you about it. He clearly remembers it. “
M-NCPPC police officer Melproctor said he saw Alexander walking in the park parking lot wearing a hat labeled “Special Police.” Proctor accused Alexander. Alexander kept walking, telling Proctor that there was no reason to stop him.
“Subjects continued to refuse to stop my orders, even after I told him he was currently detained for investigation,” Proctor wrote in a police report.
Later, Proctor sought his qualifications, he wrote. Police officers said he pulled out the taser because Alexander wore a bulletproof vest and “something around his waist in the pouch.” He pulled the gun because he noticed that Alexander had a gun holster “protruding under the coat” on his waist.
“What are you going to do, shoot me?” Proctor said Alexander asked him.
Alexander’s lawyer said the man begged for his life.
He wrote that he sprayed Alexander in his eyes as he began to thaw the coat after the policeman returned the gun to the holster and Proctor told him not to do so. During the interaction he wasn’t wearing the camera he was wearing.
Alexander’s lawyer said he wore his work clothes, including a bulletproof vest and a badge labeled “Special Police Officer.”
While Alexander was dealing with the effects of the pepper spray, Proctor slammed him on the ground with a coat hood, placed his knees on the man’s back, handcuffed him, and sprayed it on his face, the proceedings said.
After detaining Alexander, the proceedings state that Proctor found Alexander’s “valid” work ID and badge, proving his status as a special offer at the Washington, DC Embassy.
He saw Alexander’s badge hanging from his neck, the proceedings said, and a police insignia on his shirt.
In his report, Proctor wrote that Alexander “had a number of expired cards and one of the current Special Police officer’s ID cards.”
“I tried to get in touch with the person he allegedly worked for, but only to receive voicemail to someone other than the name he gave,” Proctor wrote.
Alexander is charged with resisting arrest, interfering with police officers, failing to comply with rational and legitimate orders taken by law enforcement officers to prevent obstruction of public peace, and impersonating police officers. it was done. He spent 10 hours in prison.
Naro said Proctor made great efforts to ensure that Alexander was fired from his job, where she said he had a “star” record for nine years. .. Alexander’s boss told him he could come back when he settled the case, Naro said.
On May 11, 2018, Judge Brian Beleano of the District Court of Prince George withdrew all charges against Alexander and criticized the prosecutor for pursuing the case.
Mr. Beleano said no one was actually disturbed because there was no one else during the arrest. Belleano also said that even though Alexander did not obey orders at first, he did not run, remove his hat or hide.
According to Mr. Beleano, Proctor testified that Alexander had offered to qualify him after asking several times, but police officers said it was too late for him.
“On all four points: The court has decided that, frankly, Mr. State will not accept this personally, even if he sees the light that the court is supposed to do at the moment, which is the most favorable light for the state. This should have moved the case forward, “Beleano told the prosecutor.
“This is a suspicious, legal stop at best. After a long and difficult day, Alexander did nothing wrong except to walk in the park, carry luggage and carry groceries. The police officer who did not follow the protocol made the situation worse just by making it worse, and it was clear from his own testimony. “
Alexander was never allowed to return to work. The Embassy of Qatar did not respond to requests for comment from the Atlanta Black Star.
Alexander hoped the incident would never happen. He was afraid to publish the story out of fear that it might hurt his family.
In his case, he seeks financial damages. The jury must determine the amount to be awarded to Alexander. The state allows Alexander to receive up to $ 400,000 in damages from police officers. Congressmen raised the cap to $ 600,000 from October 2021, but Alexander filed his proceedings before the threshold was raised.
La Keisha Robinson, a division of Prince George, a spokesperson for the M-NCPPC police, said authorities could not comment on the proceedings in dispute. According to records, Proctor received the 2020 Service Award.
Alexander’s lawyer, Jay Holland, said the case was an example of a lack of accountability and a cultural collapse that allowed police officers to attack civilians in their daily lives. The legal team hopes that the Alexander case and other cases like it will cause institutional changes in all police stations.
The M-NCPPC police are also the center of another proceeding that allows you to see inside the culture of the department. In proceedings Also, the Black M-NCPPC police officer, acquired by the Atlanta Black Star, details the cases of racism and humiliation.
“When you go out to the field, don’t leave it on the door. These are police officers who are in contact with us as citizens and with Mr. Alexander,” said lawyer Veronica Nanis.
“I think it’s probably tied to the environment in which they are, and it’s not only acceptable but encouraged in park and planning.”
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