Protective sweep of vehicle via Long
Facts Erik Rodriguez was a passenger in a car driven by his friend. Police noticed the car straddling two lanes of traffic, so they began to follow it. They observed that there were two men in the car and that both were wearing hooded jackets. The passengers appeared intently interested in the police car and were […]
Claiming self defense does not mean there was not sufficient probable cause for an arrest
Facts Joshua Loftin lived at 1609 Williams Street in Prentiss, Mississippi for ten years. While living at that address, he filed numerous noise complaints (more than 50) with the local police department, complaining that vehicles parked outside or passing by were playing music at a deafening volume, in violation of a city noise ordinance. The […]
Summary judgement granted for officers who took subject to ground for public intoxication arrest
Facts In 2019 Officer Samuel Serrett pulled over driver Timothy Robinson and his girlfriend Jessica Solis for failing to properly signal and driving outside of his lane. Serrett believed that either Robinson or Solis (or both) may have been intoxicated so he requested backup. Robinson was eventually arrested after he refused a field sobriety test. Solis began recording the […]
Summary judgement granted for officer arresting student for school shooting picture that was a joke
Facts In 2018, Sgt. Billy Matranga worked as the campus police officer at a high school. The school principal called Matranga into her office and showed him photographs of Lennon Betancourt posing with a caricature of himself drawn on a whiteboard with the words “future school shooter” written above it. This had been posted on […]
summary judgement denied for officer who killed person in moving vehicle
Facts In 2017, fifteen year old Jordan Edwards attended a party at a house in Balch Springs, Texas, with his two brothers and two friends. When police responded to a report of underage drinking, the boys headed for their car. As police were at the house, they heard gunshots and walked in that direction. Edwards […]
Constable in Texas did not violate another constable’s constitutional rights
Facts Ted Heap is elected constable in Harris County, Texas. Herschel Smith is elected constable in Waller County, Texas. In 2020, Smith was driving in Harris County in a county owned vehicle that displayed exempt license plates and featured red and blue emergency lights. Smith observed a car exceeding the speed limit so he flashed […]