Lawsuit targets Decatur police after traffic stop | public safety
DECATUR — A landscape gardener who says he was held at gunpoint by Decatur police and fearing for his life in a case of mistaken identity is now suing cops and the city of Decatur for more than $150,000.
Quartus Stitt alleges his civil rights were also violated by subjecting him to an “unreasonable or prolonged investigative halt” after he stopped his car and ordered him out.
Stitt alleges police must have known they were stopping the wrong make of car with the wrong license plate in their search for an armed suspect.
The African-American plaintiff says the incident, which happened on June 26, 2020, came at a time when he harbored “feelings of mistrust/distrust and fear of police officers” following the death on May 25 of this year of George Floyd, who was killed during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers.
“Mr. Stitt was also extremely perplexed as to why Officer Does had approached him with their guns drawn, but also as to why he was even being detained, as he had done nothing other than his job!” said the lawsuit, which will be tried in the Central District of the United States District Court.
“…Mr. Stitt suffered injuries and damages of a pecuniary, emotional and physical nature, including but not limited to lost wages, medical expenses, embarrassment, pain and suffering and emotional distress,” said the lawsuit, filed that afternoon. of June 27.
The 10 officers involved are referred to as the “made officer” and the lawsuit says it will be changed once their “names and abilities … have been determined.”
In fact, the federal lawsuit is so fresh and new that Decatur city authorities had not yet heard of it when contacted by the Herald & Review.
Deputy City Manager Jon Kindseth said the city could not comment specifically on a lawsuit it had not seen. “Everyone has a right to due process and the courts are there for a reason,” Kindseth added.
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“At the end of the day, he (Stitt) will have his day in court and the court will decide whether his position or his argument is valid or not.”
Decatur Police Chief Shane Brandel in an email said he hasn’t had a chance to review the lawsuit yet either. “However, in practice, I do not comment on ongoing litigation,” he added.
Stitt, 36, is represented by attorney Andrew Williams, based in Miami, Florida.
Williams said the focus now is on securing proper compensation for her client in the legal arena. “Our intention is obviously not to hit the police,” Williams said.
“But just as the police want to hold criminals accountable, it’s important that we also hold the police accountable.”
Details of the trial say the events happened around 4:50 p.m. after a woman alerted the police. She is described as the victim of an unspecified crime that took place in the 1300 block of East Hickory Street and involved a named “armed individual”.
Williams, in the lawsuit, alleges police were told the suspect they were looking for was fleeing the area in a white Mazda 6 model car with a South Carolina license plate. He said Stitt drove a white Mitsubishi Lancer with Florida plates. Stitt was using the vehicle while doing his landscaping work at a nearby house when he found himself “surrounded by Officer Does who pointed his guns at Mr. Stitt and demanded that he get out of the Mitsubishi”.
The lawsuit continues: “Mr. Stitt was detained and handcuffed by Officer Does in front of the community and neighborhood in which he worked while neighbors watched while Officer Does searched the Mitsubishi.
“It should be noted that all Does officers knew the assailant was in a white Mazda 6 with a South Carolina license plate…because this information had been relayed to them through the department’s radio dispatch from police ; not a Mitsubishi with a Florida license plate.
The lawsuit states that Stitt can support his claims about what happened because he had captured everything on video.
“The tape serves as compelling evidence to support Mr. Stitt’s assertions in this action,” the lawsuit alleges. A request has been made by the Herald & Review for a copy of the video.
The case has been assigned to Judge Colin Stirling Bruce but no hearing date has yet been set.
Read the complaint:
A look back at the Decatur police through the years 🚨
1911
Third police department photo from 1911: front row, Wilson, Royse, Kossick, Stone, Donahue; back row, Dayton, Harding, Imboden.
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1911

One of three photos of some of the 1911 Police Department personnel: McDermitt, Delaney, McDaniels, Pound, Brunsfield, Kemp.
1911
1911 Police Department: Front Row, Stephens, Glasgow, Lewshinski, Welty; back row, Price, Wheeler, Park.
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1924

1924: Decatur Police Department front row, left to right, Mayor Elmer Elder, Capt. RA Thornell, CP Elder, Deputy Chief Scott Gulliford, Sgt. Fred Meece, John Fink; second row, WM Park, Con Doherty, Sgt. TJ Collins, Sgt. Stephen Wood, Harry Lovejoy, CE Martin, George Geer and Frank Bunkle; third row, RE Pound, Ben Taylor, Frank Dennis, Carl Phillips, WR Adams, EW Larrick, Virgil Belcher, CA Dickerson; front row, DE Baucom, BT Perkins, JH Wiggins, CC Aydelott, Chief Omer Davenport, Robert Hankins, WM Markwell, CT Allen, John Higgins, Police Matron Mrs Myrtle Edwards.
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1934
1934: The new 85-foot tower that will carry the overhead wires for the police broadcast system is hoisted into place.
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1939

1939: This three-wheeled motorcycle, equipped with a radio, enters regular service. Harry Moss is in the driver’s seat, Homer Ritchie sits in the rear compartment, and chef HJ Schepper stands behind the machine.
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1941
1941: Decatur Police Department left to right patrolmen Clyde Freeman, Earl Myers, Charles Kemper, Arthur Travis, Cass Runyan, Sgt. Louis Rost, Chief HJ Schepper, Mayor Charles E. Lee, Lt. CL Lycan, Patrolmen Ralph Rutherford, Homer Ritchie, Harold Buechler and Frank James.
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1942

1942: Traffic patrolman Arthur V. Travis was not a popular figure with motorists. When he was on vacation, there was a sharp reduction in traffic stops.
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1951
1951: The Decatur Police Department’s second shift includes, seated left to right, Horace Hoff, Ed Speaker, Burns Long, George Jewell, Bill Fitzgerald and George Smith. Standing with Lt. Otto Salfeski, left, Sgt. WE Tapscott and Detective CW Henry.
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1960

1960: More modern appearance in 1960. Six officers in the front row carry clubs, which were later discontinued.
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1977
1977: The Decatur Police Department shooting team includes, from left, Dave Cox, Gordon Bell, Leo Dauer, Tom Butts, Dave Leonard, Charles Boland and Dale Traughber.
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1990

1990: Curt Johnson and Kent Pope stop at the corner of Macon and Crea streets, the center of the neighborhood they are patrolling on foot.
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Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid
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