SORRY ABOUT THAT, BUT I THOUGHT YOUR BLACKNESS RESULTED FROM STAYING IN A TANNING DEVICE TOO LONG

Shane Brown: Black Nevada man sues cops for arresting him on warrant of White namesake

 

By Tuhin Chakraborty  

 

meaww

January 25, 2022 

 

 

Shane Lee Brown (R) has alleged he was arrested on warrant of White man named Shane Neal Brown (L)

 

A Black man is suing two police departments, claiming that he was mistaken for an elderly White suspect and was wrongfully detained and kept in jail for approximately a week. Shane Lee Brown was 23 years old when he was pulled over by police in Henderson, Nevada, on January 8, 2020. Brown did not have his driver's license with him, but the lawsuit claims that he gave the officer his name and Social Security number, as well as his Social Security card. Brown is suing the Las Vegas and Henderson police department to claim $50,000 for civil rights violations, false detention, negligence, and other improper behavior.

According to the Washington Post, officers conducted a name check and discovered an arrest warrant for a firearms offense. The warrant was issued for Shane Neal Brown, a 49-year-old Caucasian male. The elder Brown is also described as being 5-foot-11, with brown hair and a white beard, according to the lawsuit. Shane Lee Brown stands 5'7" tall and has black hair.

That didn't stop cops from apprehending the younger Brown. He was given over to authorities in Las Vegas after being kept in jail for two days and he was held for about a week in total. The lawsuit claims that the younger Brown sought to convey to officers from both departments that they had the incorrect guy. Shane Lee Brown was ultimately released when a public defense reviewed images of the younger and adult Brown.

The lawsuit reads, "had any of the LVMPD police or corrections officers performed any due diligence, such as comparing Shane Lee Brown’s booking photo against the existing mug shot belonging to the older, white ‘Shane Brown’ named in the warrant … they would have easily determined that Shane Lee Brown has been misidentified as the subject of the warrant,” reports Washington Post.

Authorities however defended their action. A spokeswoman for the Henderson Police Department, Kathleen Richards, said Shane Lee Brown's arrest was justifiable since he was driving with a suspended license and failed to pay a warrant issued by Henderson Municipal Court. “Mr Brown admitted to the arresting officers that he knew his driver's license was suspended and that he had traffic warrants in Henderson. The plaintiff in this lawsuit has not presented all the facts and circumstances behind his lawful and proper arrest by Henderson Police, which will be further addressed in the City Attorney's response to the court,” she added.