Jury Awards Mechanic $76,000 in Federal False Arrest Case Against Police and City of Huntsville

A federal jury has awarded $76,000 to a Mechanic Falsely Arrested by Huntsville Police Officers after he refused to show identification while fixing a client’s car in a church parking lot five years ago, his attorney announced Friday.

Roland Edger on Wednesday was awarded $75,000 for pain and suffering and another $1,000 for pain and suffering following the 2019 arrest by Huntsville police officers Krista McCabe and Cameron Perillat, according to civil rights attorney Hank Sherrod, who represented the mechanic. .

U.S. District Court Judge Liles Burke ruled that McCabe and Perillat falsely arrested Edger and that the federal jury in Huntsville would decide the damages owed to the mechanic. He also found the city of Huntsville responsible as it is the officers’ employer.

“Roland is very happy to close this chapter of his life,” Sherrod said. “Roland never imagined it would take 5 years to get justice, but he is satisfied with the judge’s ruling and the jury’s verdict. Delayed justice is better than no justice. Roland hopes this verdict will lead to better practices by police officers.”

Huntsville police said in a statement to WAAY that the department “respects the court’s decision and will incorporate additional training to ensure our practices align with the court’s ruling.”

A customer called Edger in June 2019 and told him his wife’s red Toyota Camry had broken down at the church where he worked in Huntsville, according to federal court records.

Edger arrived there a day or two later, picked up the car key at the church’s main office, examined it, concluded that the problem might be with the steering or the tire, and left.

She returned with her stepson that same night and the church security guard called 911 to report that “two Hispanic men were playing with an employee’s car that was abandoned in the parking lot,” according to federal court records.

Officer McCabe showed up about 30 minutes later, according to court records.

TO 40 minute video The encounter and arrest episode, which was released by the federal appeals court, began when Officer McCabe approached Edger as he was lifting a red Toyota Camry in the parking lot of the Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church on the night of March 10. June 2019. his stepson was standing nearby.

McCabe began to question Edger. Edger told McCabe he was fixing a car for his client. McCabe then pointed to a black hatchback parked nearby and asked whose car it was. Edger replied that it was his.

This was followed by 30 seconds of silence as the officer watched Edger work on the car, the video shows.

“Okay. Take a break real quick and do you have a driver’s license or ID with you?” McCabe asked in the video after the period of silence. At that point, a second officer, Perillat, arrived at the parking lot, the judges noted in their opinion. .

“I’m not going to present any identification. Listen, call the lady right now. Listen, I don’t have time for this. I don’t want to be rude or ugly, but… . “Edger said, as he got up from working on the car.

“Well. No, you need to give me your ID or driver’s license,” Officer McCabe said in the video, as Officer Perillat approached Edger from behind.

Body camera showed Edger running both hands through his hair in apparent frustration and said, “Listen, I don’t want you to cum on me, uhm, for no good reason.”

“Are you refusing to give me your ID or driver’s license?” McCabe asked in the video.

“I’m telling you, call this lady on the phone…” Edger began to say before footage showed Officer Perillat grabbing him from behind and pushing him toward the car.

As Perrillat handcuffed him, Edger said twice that he would show them his identification.

“You are under arrest,” McCabe said in the footage.

“So that?” Edger asked.

“For obstruction,” McCabe responded.

“I didn’t do anything,” Edger said as footage showed McCabe pinning him over the vehicle.

“So if you resist further, they will also charge you with resisting arrest. Do you understand?” McCabe said in the footage.

“Hey, I’ll give you my ID, I’ll tell you what’s happening, this is ridiculous, I’m trying to get a client’s car here. I’m in a hurry. My store is open right now,” Edger said.

Eventually, Perillat found the ID after searching through Edger’s wallet. In the video, McCabe explained to Edger’s stepson that Edger was going to jail because he obstructed an investigation by refusing to give him his identification.

According to Sherrod, there were two problems with the arrest. First, officers must have reasonable suspicion before arresting a person, and McCabe saw nothing criminal that would justify Edger’s capture. Second, even if the seizure had been legal, under Alabama law, McCabe could not legally demand an identification card during a non-traffic stop.

A panel of federal appeals court judges ruled that Edger did not have to present any identification because the state of Alabama Stop and Identify Statute It only allows the officer to stop a person in public and “demand his name, address and an explanation of his actions” upon reasonable suspicion of the commission of a crime.

The city of Huntsville charged Edger with “obstructing government operations” for refusing to provide identification, but later dropped the charge. Edger filed suit in federal court, alleging false arrest in violation of his civil rights. A federal judge in Huntsville granted the officer qualified immunity and dismissed the lawsuit.

On appeal, federal appeals judges rejected the officers’ argument that they had probable cause to arrest Edger for refusing to produce physical identification and sent the lawsuit back to Burke’s courtroom.

Updated at 6:08 pm to include comments from the Huntsville Police Department.