According to reports, video reportedly showed a deputy throwing a trans man to the ground during a traffic stop. Officials said the incident, which occurred back in February, has recently been obtained by local news outlets, sparking calls for accountability. In the video, the deputy, later identified as Joseph, can be seen pulling up behind the man’s parked car at a convenience store. Shortly after, the deputy forcefully takes him down to the ground and pins him face-down while demanding that he put his hands behind his back.
The trans man, Emmett, who was brutally assaulted by the deputy is reportedly planning a legal complaint, seeking more than $10,000 in damages. Emmett claims that he was attacked after being followed and subsequently pinned to the ground by deputy officer Joseph, despite him showing no signs of resisting in video footage of the attack. Officials said this incident occurred after Emmett spotted the deputy having a heated conversation with a woman on the side of the road.
As Emmett drove by, he reportedly showed his middlle finger and was later followed by the deputy, until both stopped and the attack occurred. The school teacher was later charged with obstruction, resisting arrest and mayhem, as well as a misdemeanour for failing to obey a police officer. The charges were eventually dropped against Emmett, but not before he lost his teaching job as a result of the incident. Emmett said that he plans to pursue a lawsuit after a notice of claim was filed by attorney Thomas, where he accused jailers of harassing Emmett by forcing him to expose his genltals in order to prove his gender.
The claim also condemned Emmett and other officers for creating a knowingly false justification which led to the attack. In an incident report, the deputy claimed that he began punching Emmett repeatedly after saying he was about to throw a punch and accussed him of attempting to rip my skin from my hand by biting him. The medical report made no mention of any bite marks, while a physician assistant wrote in a hospital document that there were no bite marks at this time. Emmett has also denied allegations of biting the officer. One officer allegedly demanded proof that Emmett had a pe-is after Emmett explained the hormones he had been on for years. After being forced to show his genltals in a station bathroom, he was placed in a women’s holding cell.
