Samuel Scott Jr, a Black man from Miami, Florida, filed a lawsuit against the city on November 13 after police arrested him for “stealing” his own car three years ago.
According to the Miami New Times, Scott called the police in June 2018 to report his Jeep Compass as stolen. However, when police arrived, he was arrested and charged with theft.
Bodycam footage obtained from the incident showed when the police and officers handcuffed, Scott told him he matched the description of the person who stole the car.
“I’m telling you, you guys have the wrong guy,” the man said, according to the footage obtained by the outlet. “I can confirm where I was, and I can even confirm my activities,” he added.
But the police officer said that “the description of the guy who took off in your car is just like yours.”
To which Scott replied, “But that’s half of Miami.”
The police’s description of the suspect was a “Black male, bald, about 6ft 2in and heavyset, with a white tank top”.
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“I called because my car got stolen,” Scott said, adding: “I mean, why would I call the police? Why am I in handcuffs?”
Police later charged Scott for leaving the scene of an accident, falsely reporting a crime, failure to carry a concealed-weapon license, and possession of marijuana.
Ultimately, the Miami-Dade state attorney’s office dropped the charges against Scott and was released from custody.
Now, he is suing the city of Miami and officers Jonathan Guzman, Michael Bloom, Brandon Williams, Miguel Hernandez, and Randy Carriel.
“He reported to the cops because he believed that the cops were actually going to assist him,” his attorney, Faudlin Pierre, said. “And then it turns out that they racially profiled him.”
Scott’s lawsuit claims that officers conducted an unlawful search, false imprisonment, and malicious prosecution. He’s currently seeking $500,000 in damages.
