Officer Illegally Strip-Searched Man in Racial Profiling Stop

Background

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs filed a federal lawsuit against the Laurel Maryland Police Department for publicly strip-searching Allan Sergeant during a baseless traffic stop which occurred solely on the basis of racial profiling.

On March 9, 2014, a Laurel police officer illegally stopped Mr. Sergeant’s car in a CVS parking lot. The officer ordered Mr. Sergeant, who is Black and had Dreadlocks, out of the car, subjected him to two frisks and searches, and then unbuckled his belt, pulled down his pants and underwear, and forced him to undergo a visual strip search of his genitals and buttocks in public view.

Mr. Sergeant was not given an explanation for the stop, and he had not committed any offenses or traffic infractions. He was never under arrest, and he was not charged with any crime. The officer conducting the strip search was assisted by a fellow officer, who watched the manifestly illegal and outrageous conduct, and failed and refused to intervene to stop it.

After the incident, Mr. Sergeant filed a complaint with the Laurel Police Department, which continued to employ both officers. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland ended in 2017 with a $125,000 settlement for the plaintiff.