Leesburg Police Department sued for $1.35 million

A former Manassas resident has refiled a $1.35 million civil suit in Loudoun County Circuit Court against the Leesburg Police Department seeking compensation from an alleged police assault involving four police officers in 2019.

The suit was filed on Sept. 26 by Michael Benet Wyche, and names Detective Jonathan J. Graham, Lt. Bradley M. Schultz, Officer Justin Wilt and former Officer Matthew Connell. Schultz was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 2023.

Wyche had originally filed a suit in 2021, but in April 2024 Wyche and his attorney decided to not move forward at that time in order to obtain more medical records, Wyche said.

Jacqueline A. Kramer, Wyche’s attorney, wrote in the new suit that the incident occurred at the Sunoco station at East Market Street and Fort Evans Road SE in Leesburg around 11:25 p.m. on May 5, 2019, after Graham pulled Wyche over for allegedly speeding.

Graham falsely claimed Wyche had marijuana in his car as a “pretext” to search it, the lawsuit says, adding that no marijuana or weapons were found in the car or on Wyche.

Connell arrived to back up Graham, who told Wyche he wanted to search his car, but Wyche refused and started to roll up his driver’s side window, the lawsuit states. Graham then grabbed Wyche’s arm and Graham and Connell repeatedly punched Wyche in the face, according to the suit.

Kramer said her client never fought back, resisted or made any threatening gestures at police.

Wilt arrived on the scene with his police dog, Loki, and the dog entered the car on the passenger side and barked at Wyche, according to the suit.

“Despite the fact that Wyche was being punched in the face by Graham and Connell, Wilt told Wyche to show his hands or he would get bit by K-9 Loki,” the lawsuit says. “Wyche raised his hands and said, ‘My hands are right here.’”

Wyche was kneed by Connell as he was thrown on the pavement and handcuffed and was bleeding from the mouth by the time Schultz arrived, the lawsuit states.

Graham said he had ‘seen scrap’ in Wyche’s vehicle, a term for marijuana, but never found any. Wyche was charged with assaulting an officer, a felony, and obstruction of justice, a misdemeanor. Prosecutors later dropped both charges under former Loudoun Commonwealth’s Attorney Buta Biberaj.

A video of the altercation can be seen here:

Kramer said that in addition to brutalizing Wyche, the officers conspired to cover up their actions. Wythe has moved from the Northern Virginia area, but said he is still dealing with the affects of his experience with police.