Nationwide — Dailen Brewer, an 18-year-old African American teen from Indianapolis, Indiana, filed a federal lawsuit against a police officer after body camera footage contradicted her claim that he pointed a gun and tried to kill her. Brewer spent four days in jail facing serious charges before prosecutors dismissed the case.
His lawsuit accuses Indianapolis Police Sgt. Robyn Frazier and the city of Indianapolis are violating his rights by allegedly fabricating evidence, pursuing a false prosecution, and damaging his reputation.
According to Atlanta Black Star, the incident happened on April 12 when he drove into Riverside Park with a friend in the passenger seat. Police said Brewer entered the park through an exit lane while it was close to closing time, but his lawsuit claims there were no clear signs or barriers showing the entrance was blocked.
Brewer had two legally owned firearms inside his vehicle: an AR-style rifle and a revolver. According to police, Frazier approached the car and claimed Brewer pointed the revolver at her and made a gesture that appeared as if he pulled the trigger.
The allegation led to Brewer’s arrest on several felony charges, including attempted murder, pointing a firearm, intimidation of a public servant, and resisting law enforcement while drawing a deadly weapon.
Brewer’s lawsuit claims body camera footage later showed a different version of events. According to the filing, the video showed Brewer with his hands raised while the firearms remained on the floor of the vehicle.
The lawsuit states that Brewer never touched the revolver in front of Frazier. It also claims the vehicle started moving after Frazier opened the driver’s door, causing Brewer to reach for the gear shift to put the car in park before the officer pointed her gun at him and his passenger.
After prosecutors reviewed the body camera footage, they dismissed the charges four days after Brewer’s arrest. At the time, Brewer had already spent several days in jail without bond while facing charges that could have resulted in decades behind bars.
Before the charges were dropped, the Indianapolis Police Department shared Frazier’s account of the incident on Facebook, describing it as a dangerous encounter involving a firearm pointed at an officer. The post praised officers for their response, but later faced criticism from people who questioned why the department did not issue a correction after the case was dismissed.
Brewer’s lawsuit claims Frazier made false statements in her affidavit and that her actions caused him harm. He is seeking accountability from the officer and the city over the allegations.
Some commenters on the police department’s Facebook post also demanded answers, questioning why the original claims remained public after video evidence reportedly challenged the officer’s account.
Source: BlackNews.com
