Date of Offense
Complaint
Statement
On or about the date being january 10th, 2024 At or around 11:30pm. I Brittany Merritt Was coming off of W Mauney Ave. In Gastonia NC. I turned on my left turn signal and made a left onto N. ransom St. Gastonia NC also being the street that I live on. I noticed in my rearview mirror that a police officer was sitting on the side of the road with his headlights off. I proceeded to pull into my driveway As I saw the police officer pull off in my direction and blue lights me. As my family and I being that of my fiancee and my two children ages of 16 & 11. Was getting out of my automobile Here the police officer approaches and gets out of his vehicle And began yelling at us to get back in the vehicle confused to why I still step toward my vehicle and got back in. Officer T. Stclair Walks to the passenger side of the automobile. I respectfully asked him what was his emergency and why was i being and why was I being pulled over? he then Response By stating that I had on my right turn signal but made a left, When I knew in fact that I turned on my left turn signal and made a left. He then proceeds but once again yelling and asking if I had my ID I didn’t question him and asked him what was the purpose of needing my ID what crime had I committed. And then he stays ohh you don't wanna give me Right What do you have a license and I said no I do not I don’t contract with anyone it is my right to travel in my automobile. I also stated that I had my paperwork that I had no problem letting him see but he refused my paperwork by then there were two other officers on my driver side. Officer T. Stclair Then told them to officers to pull me out of my automobile never asking me to step out they both jerked me out of my automobile one grabbed my neck and one grabbed my shoulders. they then stated that they were detaining me and placed me in handcuffs and walked me to the back of the police car. Officer ledford ask me did I have anything on me and I then stated no, And he proceeded by searching me he took his flashlight and Began to pull my jacket back and I felt like he was going to look down my shirt I then stated you can’t do that! He stopped and then proceeded to search the rest of me all the way down my legs back up and as he's coming back up he places his hands inside of the top of my pants all the way around my waistline, I can feel the tip of his fingers touching my feminine part Which made me feel very uncomfortable. I did jump because I knew that it was very wrong I also stated to him that he could not do that that he was supposed to call a female officer out there to check me and that I felt very violated he then stated that he could do what he wanted and I responded by no you cannot. he found a torch lighter in my jacket pocket and told the other officers to search my vehicle. And I stated that I did not give him permission to search my vehicle he did not have probable cause to search my vehicle and that that was my lighter for my cigarettes So I wasn’t understanding why he needed to search my Automobile. They did without my permission and without any warrant or probable cause or articular fact search my vehicle. I then stated to him that he was performing a illegal search. They did not find anything on me in my possession or in my automobile. But yet he still placed me under arrest and proceeded to put me in the back of the cop car and transport me to the police station. Which is now a unlawful arrest as well as A total violation to my rights.
