WASHINGTON — A University of Virginia student who was bloodied by state liquor agents during a March arrest is suing the agency responsible for his arrest.
Lawyers for Martese Johnson have filed a $3 million civil suit against Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control as well as three agents and the agency’s director. The suit claims that agents used excessive force during the arrest.
The suit says ABC agents “brutally assaulted, seized, arrested and jailed [Johnson] without probable cause and in violation of the United States Constitution, federal statues, and the laws of Virginia, believed (falsely and without sufficient information) that [Johnson] had presented a fake identification card …”
Alcoholic Beverage Control Department agents arrested the 20-year-old Chicago junior outside a bar across the street from campus March 18. The arrest received widespread attention with photos and videos on social media showing Johnson pinned to the ground, his face bloodied. Johnson could be heard on the video recording calling the officers racist.
Johnson needed 10 stitches following his arrest.
“The Agents’ brutal and unjustified attack on [Johnson] has left [Johnson] permanently disfigured as there is scarring to [Johnson]’s forehead and scalp,” the lawsuit says.
Johnson was charged with obstruction of justice and public intoxication or swearing, but those charges were dropped. After an investigation, the Charlottesville prosecutor determined that the agents did nothing wrong and declined to file charges.
The ABC agents were not charged. But Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the arrest exposed the need for more extensive training and oversight.
Johnson’s lawsuit names the ABC, agency director Shawn P. Walker, and agents Jared Miller, Thomas Custer and John Cielakie as defendants.
A Virginia ABC spokeswoman says the agency will not comment on pending litigation.
View the lawsuit below:
Martese Johnson v. Alcoholic Beverage Control
WTOP’s Sarah Beth Hensley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
