Alleged Carjacker Whose Arrest Video Went Viral Sues for $1 Million

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A carjacking suspect whose violent arrest caught on cell phone video last month is suing the officers who allegedly kicked, beat and admonished him for invoking Jesus’ name for $1 million.

Andrew Jackson Jr.’s lawsuit alleging his constitutional rights were violated was filed on the heels of his own arrest on carjacking charges, The Detroit News reports. The case was initially filed in Wayne County Circuit Court, but lawyers have filed motions to move it to federal court.

Names as defendants in the lawsuit are Highland Park police Officer Ronald Dupuis and unidentified Grosse Pointe Park officers, who were part of a stolen car task force that arrested Jackson on Jan. 12.

The video of Jackson’s arrest sparked outrage and calls for investigations into police brutality. A Michigan State Police investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jackson’s arrest is continuing at the request of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

Jackson allegedly carjacked a grandmother and her grandchildren at gunpoint in Detroit and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t comply. He was arrested by the task force known as ACTION, a multi-jurisdictional task force that includes officers from Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Highland Park and Harper Woods

Related:

• Watch: Video Shows Police Kicking, Punching Cuffed Suspect
• Wayne Prosecutor Asks State Police to Review Violent Arrest Caught on Video

Grosse Pointe Park Police Chief David Hiller said acted “properly” to detain a “serious felon.” Police officers have said the force was necessary because Jackson was allegedly resisting arrest. Jackson disputes that in his lawsuit and claims he was already handcuffed when he suffered injuries to his head, eye, rib and leg.

In the lawsuit, Jackson claims he suffered “emotional distress, mental anguish, lost wages, physical illness, medical expenses, injury to reputation, humiliation, mortification and embarrassment.”

He has asked for a jury trial.