Martese Johnson Files Federal Lawsuit Against Virginia Officers

Martese Johnson Files Federal Lawsuit Against Virginia Officers

UVA student Martese Johnson has filed a federal lawsuit against the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and three officers following a brutal and bloody arrest that went viral in March.

According to The Root reports:

The lawsuit claims that the ABC violated the 21-year-old’s constitutional rights, accusing agents of unlawfully detaining Johnson when he was arrested in the early-morning hours of March 18 following St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

Officers “brutally assaulted, seized, arrested and jailed Martese without probable cause and in violation of the United States Constitution, federal statutes and the laws of Virginia, believing (falsely and without sufficient information) that Martese had presented a fake identification card to gain entry to a restaurant and bar on University Avenue in the City of Charlottesville, Va.,” the lawsuit reads, according to the Post. The suit contends that the ID was valid.

Johnson was charged with public intoxication or swearing and obstruction of justice without force, but those charges were dropped by Charlottesville prosecutor Warner Chapman, the Post reports

We hope Martese finally gets the justice he deserves!