Black Pedestrian Arrested in Edina is Suing Officer, City

The black man whose confrontation with an Edina police officer was caught on tape and sparked national outrage is suing the city of Edina and the officer. Larnie B. Thomas, 34, of Minneapolis, claims that he was subjected to malicious discrimination Oct. 12, a violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Thomas was arrested and cited by police for disorderly conduct and pedestrian failure to obey a traffic signal, but the city of Edina later dismissed the citation.

The video of the incident, which later went viral, was filmed by Janet Rowles, who said she drove by Thomas in the 5900 block of Xerxes Avenue S. as he was walking on the white line dividing the road’s shoulder from the traffic lane.

Rowles said she assumed Thomas was avoiding the sidewalk because it was under construction. Rowles stopped her vehicle and began filming plainclothes police officer Lt. T.F. Olson, who is seen in the video grabbing the back of Thomas’ jacket.

"I witnessed and videoed this earlier today," reads the description in Rowles' video.

"I passed by a man who was walking on the white line of the shoulder of the street. There was construction and it was obvious that the sidewalk was not available right there so he was hugging the right side as far as he could go. I went around him and noticed in my rearview mirror that an unmarked SUV turned on police lights. The officer pulled in front of the pedestrian to cut him off and proceeded to accuse him of walking in the middle of the street."

The lawsuit says Thomas "endured pain and mental suffering, and was thereby

damaged in an amount yet to be determined," and is asking to be compensated in an amount exceeding $50,000.

Image via YouTube