Martiayna Watson is suing the Delaware State Police after being pulled from her car and held at gunpoint by the police on June 24 in Wilmington. According to WPVI, an ABC News affiliate, the police looked for suspects with a similar car.
Watson had just left a gas station when the incident occurred. She said that she was cut off when four unmarked police vehicles surrounded her. The officers, who were in plain clothes, drew their weapons on Watson. One of the armed police officers broke her window while another officer pulled her out of the car. One of the police officers also held a Taser to her neck.
Watson and her attorneys, Renee Leverette and Emeka Igwe, met with the NAACP Delaware Chapter on July 15 to announce that she would be suing the police department. Watson, 20, was in tears as she spoke to the press about the incident.
The young woman said that the incident left her traumatized and fearful of the police. She also said that she wants the officers to be accountable for their actions.
“I’m sorry. This event has been really traumatic for me. Like, I have trouble sleeping at night. When I’m driving, I’m afraid that officers are just gonna barricade me again, and just pull me over without reason again and just hold me at gunpoint.”
“I did nothing to no one at all, and this is a shame that I had to go through this, like, that, I really had to go through this. It’s so sad. And, I just really want to get to the bottom of this. I want all the officers to be held accountable.”
LAWSUIT FILED: Martiayna Watson says her car was cut off and then surrounded by four unmarked vehicles driven by four officers in plain clothes. https://t.co/vladS1aNB2
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) July 16, 2021
Justice for Martiayna Watson. https://t.co/JqIrHEe1vs
— RaceNYU (@RaceNYU) July 18, 2021
After the police realized that they were detaining the wrong person, Watson said they jumped in their cars and drove off, leaving Watson with her damaged vehicle. Although someone did contact Watson about fixing her car and offering an apology, the police had no comment.
