Lieutenant Marcus Johnson, a member of the U.S. Army Medical Corps, is taking legal action against two police officers in Virginia after a distressing encounter in which he was held at gunpoint and sprayed with pepper spray. The incident, which occurred in December, has garnered attention due to its troubling implications regarding racial profiling and the treatment of service members.
As detailed in the lawsuit filed earlier this month, Johnson was driving back to Petersburg from a drill weekend when he was stopped by police in what they labeled a “felony traffic stop.” After he pulled into a well-lit gas station in Windsor, Virginia, the officers aggressively shouted commands at him, as reported by The New York Times. “Get out of the car!” one officer shouted, while the other pointed a firearm at Johnson. “I’m honestly afraid to get out of the car,” he replied, to which Officer Mike Torres responded, “Yeah, you should be.”
Cellphone footage from Johnson’s dashboard camera and body-worn camera recordings show that he expressed his disbelief at being treated this way, saying, “I’m serving this country, and this is how I’m treated?” Later, Officer Torres approached Johnson and sprayed him with pepper spray. As Johnson exited his vehicle, he was struck behind the knees and threatened with a taser. While being handcuffed, he could be heard exclaiming, “This is messed up, this is messed up.”
Further intimidation followed, with the officers allegedly warning Johnson that he could face charges such as obstruction and assaulting an officer—potentially jeopardizing his military career.
The officers claimed they stopped Johnson due to the absence of license plates on his SUV. He had recently purchased the vehicle and had temporary plates visibly displayed in the rear window. The officers accused him of “willfully and wantonly disregarding” their signals before pulling over, which led them to treat the situation as a serious offense.
On April 2, Johnson filed a lawsuit against Officers Torres and Rob Mitchell, citing violations of his constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment. He is seeking at least $1 million in damages, alleging that excessive force was used due to racial profiling. “He’s a sworn member of the United States Army,” said his attorney, Sarah Thompson. “His oath to defend the Constitution was undermined by the actions of these officers.” The New York Times noted that Johnson has been left feeling “really shaken up” by the encounter, and there are fears about possible retaliation.
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Summary
Lieutenant Marcus Johnson has filed a lawsuit against two Virginia police officers for holding him at gunpoint and using excessive force during a traffic stop. The incident raises serious concerns about racial profiling and the treatment of military personnel by law enforcement. Johnson, who was in uniform at the time, is seeking compensation for the violation of his constitutional rights.
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