The ACLU of Mississippi filed a lawsuit on behalf of our client, Andrial Young, against the City of Lexington and Lexington police officers, Sam Dobbins, Charles Henderson, and three John Doe officers, for violation of Andrial’s rights under the under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.
According to the complaint, on November 22, 2021, Andrial Young was pulled over by three Lexington Police officers while stopped at a red light, allegedly for failing to wear a seatbelt - despite having one on. Three police officers approached the driver’s side of his vehicle, one of which was the Chief of Police, Sam Dobbins. Upon reaching Andrial’s window, the police claimed that they smelled marijuana and requested permission to search the vehicle. Andrial declined the search, asserting that there was no marijuana in his vehicle.
Despite his refusal, the police officers removed Andrial from his car, placed him in handcuffs, and proceeded to search his vehicle against his objections. The police did not find any illegal substances during their search.
Andrial was not read his Miranda rights nor informed of the reason for his arrest at any point during this interaction. After completing their search, the police arrested Andrial and transported him to the local police station, where he remained handcuffed and detained for eight hours, while his vehicle was subsequently towed.
The actions against Andrial are consistent with a history of police misconduct in Lexington and in line with investigative findings published in a Department of Justice report earlier this year. The LPD has routinely engaged in unconstitutional, racially-motivated police misconduct.
This lawsuit is filed as part of our Police Accountability initiative, an effort to enlist law firms, private attorneys and community organizations to bring lawsuits to stop poiice violence and harassment.
