This upload by David Elix, is at the request of the author: Marcus Adams.

The complaint is as follows:

______________________________________________

The entirety of this complaint, with attached Official Police Report and Body Cam footage is being sent to the following agencies, as well as being posted on multiple Public Forums and Social media outlets, as a matter for public record and review, in order to make aware to the public the atrocious and hanes actions and decisions made by Officers of the Lakeland Police Department.

City of Lakeland Administration Members

Commissioner Stephanie Madden: Stephanie.Madden@LakelandGov.net 

Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley: Sara.McCarley@LakelandGov.net  

Commissioner Chad McLeod: Chad.McLeod@LakelandGov.net  

Commissioner Mike Musick: Michael.Musick@LakelandGov.net 

Commissioner Bill Read: Bill.Read@LakelandGov.net 

Commissioner Guy LaLonde Jr. Guy.LaLondeJr@lakelandgov.net 

citycommission@lakelandgov.net

 

Offices of City of Lakeland Management Officials

citymanagersoffice@lakelandgov.net 

Shawn Sherrouse City Manager shawn.sherrouse@lakelandgov.net

Emily Colon Emily.colon@lakelandgov.net

Rob Hernandez Rob.Hernandez@lakelandgov.net

 

US ATTORNEY GENERAL 

US Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue `NW 

Washington, DC 20530-0001

 

 Federal Bureau of Investigations

TampaApplicants@fbi.gov

1000 Custer Hollow Road Clarksburg

West Virginia 26306

 

Inspector Generals Office, Florida

  IG.Complaints@dms.fl.gov

  (850) 488-5285

The Office of the Inspector General, Chief of Investigations at (850) 487-9881

 

City of Lakeland Mayor 

                               Bill Mutz: Bill.Mutz@LakelandGov.net 

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 LAKELAND POLICE BRUTALITY INCIDENT

02/07/2024 

 

              I, Marcus Adams, submit this complaint in person, as required, to the Lakeland Police Department, and also via email to appropriate City of Lakeland Administration Members, City Management, and in writing to the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigations, and Inspector General's Office. Furthermore, following the physical submission of this complaint, I will be posting the entirety of this complaint on social media outlets, as a matter for public record and review, in order to make aware to the public the atrocious and hanes actions and decisions made by Officers of this Department: their lack of adherence to the laws and willful failure to abide by the laws and policies set forth by leaders of this community, and the Department of Police administration that condones the illegal actions of the Officers they oversee. 

These actions, WHICH I ALLEGE TO BE TRUE, should amount to charges of assault, as well as appropriate duty negligence disciplines which have not been ordered. These facts have evidence to support their veracity, and were executed against me on February 7, 2024. 

This complaint is submitted at the earliest opportunity my schedule would allow, with time spent constructing an accurate account of the situation.

Feb 07-2024 INCIDENT DETAILS

On the 7th of February, 2024, just after 5:30 pm, I was traveling across town, from Lake Hollingsworth to Downtown Lakeland. I took a routine bike route and cut through a popular tourist location within Florida Southern College. During my ride, I came to a covered picnic area. This location had tables that presented itself to be a section sanctioned to idle outdoors. On one table, far in the back I noticed there was a planter in the center of it, which looked to be used as an ashtray. I didn't communicate with anybody, nor was it my intention too, however, a few puffs into my smoke I was approached by an FSC Security Officer, Briannah Dempsey, who informed me that smoking was not allowed at all on campus, and since I was not a student, I had to leave. She didn't say anything more than this. I apologized, put out my cigarette and politely departed by walking with my bike North, towards Frank Lloyd Wright Way. It'ps stated in the police affidavit for LPD Incident 2024-000-13009 that at this point I refused to leave in the most direct path off campus, however, your officers have twisted the information to inevitably incorrectly presume that there was probable cause to apprehend and arrest me. I didn't immediately get on my bike because I knew that the bike I was riding didn't have brakes, and the confined walkways and dense afternoon foot traffic of the school would place me in compromising situations if I rode through the crowd with no brakes. 

So I walked with my bike casually, in a direct path, North, towards Frank Lloyd Wright Way. It's stated both on the incident report and by sworn testimony of Briannah Demspey that as I was leaving, I was going through parking lots and in between buildings.. But in order to get off campus, there was no other option. No matter the direction I chose, including traveling North, would have taken me in between buildings and through parking lots. After being told to leave, I immediately left the picnic area, and walked my bike North, and when I had Frank Lloyd Wright Way in my line of sight, I mounted my bike and rode the sidewalk along Frank Lloyd Wright Way, in order to continue on my course to downtown Lakeland.

Nothing was ever told to me about me being “trespassed,” and I was unaware of the mandate ever being given, and when officers tried to arrest me, around the 700 block of Charles Street, I had no idea what the officers were doing because, besides smoking a cigarette, I knew I did nothing wrong. LPD Officer Dagon Leach #212, attempted to stop me, and at first I didn't hear him since I had earbuds in, but I acknowledged him the first chance I got.  

From my perspective, I didn't see any problems, as I had obeyed the command to leave, and I was off of FSC property completely. I even maintained myself on the sidewalk of Frank Lloyd Wright Way and did not return onto school property, so I had no clue what was going on.  

With my headphones in my ears, I was enjoying my bike ride and listening to music, and Officer Leach stopped me.

I went to turn down my music while simultaneously throwing my feet down in order to stop my bike. Upon looking forward, I was surprised to see a Police SUV close in on me and screech to a stop. I was startled. My phone even stumbled out of my hands as I struggled to stop and keep control of the bike. I watched my brand new phone shatter as it hit the concrete sidewalk. At this point, I didn't know what to do, as the two officers were now yelling at me… and charging at me with guns drawn… and that's when I fell. 

I was panicking.. I landed on the ground, and faced the officers that were still shouting at me to stop even though my hands were in the air. I had immediately thrown my hands up in order to show my compliance but the officers ignored the gesture and continued to approach angrily, escalating the situation unnecessarily by having their guns drawn and pointed at me. Even though my glasses had fallen from my face at some point, I knew that these guys were not happy.  

I had my hands lifted above my head showing them I was cooperating, but in the arrest report, it says I was trying to run. And even though at this point I was clearly showing submission, that didn't stop or slow these officers down. You have to understand how traumatized I was at this moment. For context, back in 2019, LPD officers assaulted me during a house raid. And I mean, seriously assaulted me.. After they flashbombed their way into the trailer, the events that took place resulted in extensive injury, which is documented as facts. These actions came through striking me, kicking me, kneeing me, all of which left my jaw broken in four places, and after a visit to LRMC I was booked and of course arrested. In time, Polk County citizens had to pay for my surgeries which allotted 11 weeks to be spent handcuffed to a bed at the Bartow Jail.. oh and that whole time, my mouth was wired completely shut. That was LPD INCIDENT#: 190015824, and according to that report, another document that was doctored up in order to make me look dangerous, and LPD valid, it's stated that when those men and women flash bombed their way into the small trailer, I was ordered to get on the floor with my hands on my head and refused to cooperate. It also states that my plan to “jump across a room to grab a gun” failed and that I got into some altercation with a deputy which is why they literally gave me a new face. When you dive into the case, you’ll discover there was no physical evidence ever collected that would have proven me guilty... That's because it didn't happen like that, those men lied on that report in order to adjudicate themselves of wrongdoing.. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and each time I cooperate, look at what it gets me. This is not an exaggerated, over the top story. I'm not leaving anything out in order to accentuate my innocence. LPD, HAIDA and SWAT came in and because I wasn't moving fast enough, that gave them the right to break my jaw in 4 places. If you wanna take the side of these cops, then why was there no physical evidence collected to show that I was reaching for a gun or trying to assault an officer with a knife? Because it didn't happen! Just like now they are trying to say I ran when I was clearly sitting on the ground with my hands raised. THIS WAS AN ASSAULT! The body cam footage speaks for itself.. It shows me surrendering to authorities even though I had not done anything wrong… yet the arrest affidavit says I was running. In both instances, I was attacked. According to Official Court records, there were no firearms collected at the scene to prove me guilty, and the ammunition documented was decorative and in a China Cabinet, In another room!! There was never a gun, or a knife. They wrote down whatever story sounded best in order to justify sending me to a surgeon and get facial reconstructive surgery.   

But let's say for a minute that the allegation made in the police report was accurate: that report states there was a BB gun, across the room from me when SWAT and HIADAA stormed in.. One might reasonably question the effectiveness of a BB gun against a SWAT team. Furthermore, had I been aware of the presence of a BB gun, would I genuinely have believed that I stood any chance against SWAT with such an item? No! LPD lied on that report and said that I tried reaching for a gun that wasn't even there, and they lied on February 7th saying I was trying to run.They sought justification for their actions, having brutally assaulted me to the point of severe injury.

Lakeland Police Officers broke my jaw in four places, and then charged me with resisting arrest, but didn’t arrest me for anything else. Look at my mugshot. THEIR CONDUCT THEN AND NOW HAS BEEN UNACCEPTABLE, AND THEY ARE STILL DEMONSTRATING A PATTERN TO HARM. Both incidents offer documented evidence of LPD Officers engaging in questionable and denounceable behavior, yet praised by administration. This helps to show that they had a wilful encouragement to inflict conflict and harm, then escalate situations by using their “authority” to do so. 

Now that you have a little bit of context, we should continue… I was startled and fell off my bike. Officer Smith and Leach did not consider that I was falling, and even though I was completely off FSC property, they still were considering me guilty for something. Later, when I asked why I was being stopped, Officer Leach even stated “because you didn’t listen to my command to stop, that's why.” 

I had thrown my hands up to surrender, yet they still wanted and expected a fight. It's like they just wanted to get the thrill of pouncing on me. The dialogue at the end of the videos clearly shows how they're interacting with other police officers, boasting about what happened and how it felt good, etc… There must be something in the training or in the culture of police officer mentality that gives them a rush and craving for situations like this. By analyzing and Listening to their conversations, you can determine this was an enjoyable, exhilarating and satisfying experience for them. It's clear and evident that I was on my back with my hands up and they were still shouting at me aggressively.. and attacking me for no reason whatsoever.

This has me feeling like I was mugged at gunpoint, and that my life was threatened. I was an unsuspecting victim that they exploited. I had it set in my mind that I was about to die because they were running up on me with guns drawn. Even though these were police officers, it still felt like I got mugged at gunpoint, and I was afraid I was going to die… 

This is the service your police officers and police department is delivering to its citizens. And guess what? This never happens to me with any other kind of person, ever in my life! I never have experiences involving violence, or gangs, or muggings… except with police officers.. LAKELAND POLICE OFFICERS to be exact! And we're still only at the beginning of my assault. So now that they're done approaching me, and on top of me, my anxiety at this point now overcomes me completely, and when Officer Nathan Smith makes contact, it's with his foot. I blacked out from my PTSD Trauma after Officer Smith kicked me in the head. I remember getting tazed, but I came back around to warn them last time they assaulted me and they broke my jaw… they ignored me and Officer Smith Jabbed the back of my head with his fists and I blacked out again until I was spitting dirt and blood out of my mouth when it was all over with. It wasn't until recently when I saw the body cam footage that I remembered what actually happened during the attack.. and when I think about it, it's hard to see through all the emotional distress I experience as a result of it.

You don't know how bad it is to be in my position going through what I went through that day. It's not okay. It's not okay that your officers did this to me, and continue to do this to others. AND then they lie in their reports. And you guys denounce us but praise them, throw us in jail and give them medals, it's not okay that you use us like fodder and give them new cars…. New toys.. vacations, bonuses.. etc… IT'S NOT OKAY!!! 

 This was an attack!  

I'm submitting this complaint because it seems like nothing ever gets done about things like this and I'm sure it happens more than people actually speak up about. It's a shame that your department would review this incident and then release a statement saying if I had listened, then this wouldn't have happened…but I did listen, I left! Then I had my hands up! 

I wasn't resisting or showing any kind of intent that I was trying to escape or evade…. I was clearly trying to cooperate! Then.. Officer Leach pulled out his taser gun and tazed me. I never before experienced such a thing. My body tensed up and I could not move.

Officer Smith then grabbed me and flipped me over onto my stomach. As my body slammed on the floor, electricity still surging through me, my arms got pinned under me. AS I WAS CRYING OUT, Officer Smith pushed his knees down into my back and pushed down with full force. This prevented me from releasing my hands, or moving… or breathing. I HAD NO CONTROL.. NO CHOICE BUT TO LET THEM DO THIS TO ME no matter how much it hurt Officer Nathan Smith then grabbed my right arm and pulled it straight up behind me, causing excruciating pain. Then he pushed his knee down again, then placed my arm behind me but it was like he was trying to dislocate it. He then began shouting at me at point blank range into my ear, ordering me to give him my other arm but I couldn't. As he did this he pushed his knees , both of them, down harder and demanded that I release my other hand, the one he had pinned beneath me. I was still convulsing from the taser shock at this point, then he repeatedly struck my head with his fist and forearm. Officer Marlowe assisted in keeping me immobilized and pinned down on the ground as I was assaulted repeatedly.

 

Because of this incident, I was charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. And your officers got a paycheck. To top it off, your department released a statement saying If I had listened, then none of this would have happened…. But I did listen, I was stopping my bike. And when you think about it, Don't you think I would have had a better chance at running away on a bike rather than on foot? A bike is faster, so the whole story these officers are spewing out is just ridiculous and this was not right. The amount of force was unnecessary, and not to mention your reputation ain't squeaky clean either because LPD has been in the spotlight before for being too brutal and excessive in certain situations, and this is definitely one of them. I was leaving. I was adhering to whatever the security officer said to do and I was gone. I didn't diddle daddle at All, I didn't procrastinate, I left right then and there. And because I did that your officer's attacked me.

 

This was in accordance with Officer Leach's command to "stop." As you can see from the body cam footage, I totally complied! I rolled onto my back and lifted my hands to demonstrate my surrender. Nonetheless, Officers Leach and Smith approached me aggressively and attacked. I had no intention of running or resisting, and my posture and body position indicated an acceptance pose. But your officers had only one intention: to launch another heinous attack. Lakeland Police officers intentionally violated the law when they attacked me, and their badges should not protect them from the consequences of assault, which is why they did what they did.

 

If this were done by a non-police officer, charges would be filed, and the same should be done with these policemen. Nathan Smith immobilized me, knowing that the combination of post-taze shock, shellshock, and the full downward power of his knees would paralyze me. He understood that doing so would immobilize me and give him permission to strike me, so he did it, then balled his fist and smacked me in the back of the head several times.

 

This, combined with the 2019 tragedy, has left me immobile and permanently traumatized. These officers should not be on the streets.

 

This is not acceptable behavior or understandable conduct. Officer Smith pinned me down with his knee, rendering me incapable of moving, as he struck me several times. The Lakeland Police Department needs to start admitting their actions and stop trying to cover up their mistakes. I demand that the Department retrain all of its officers and incorporate de-escalation tactics in all new officer training from this point forward so these situations won't happen again. I await the day when the citizens of Lakeland will see a new and just Police Department, one with integrity and accountability for the actions of the officers that they hire and employ. 

 

There's no excuse for the lack of discernment and professionalism Lakeland Police is currently choosing to ignore, and there's no question at all about it: 

 

This was a vile assaul and I demand immediate action!