Walking While Black: federal case in Brady Lake, Ohio
by Francis E. Dorsey Friday, Mar. 04, 2005 at 3:02 PM
fdorsey@kent.edu Kent, Ohio

Two black men sue in federal court over mistaken arrest in Brady Lake, Ohio; support is requested

Akron Beacon Journal

Two black men sue over mistaken arrest

BRADY LAKE - Two African-Americans who were signing up voters at a parade last summer are suing police, Portage County deputies and state troopers because the law enforcement officials mistook them for bank robbers and arrested them.According to the lawsuit filed Tuesday, Jelini Dorsey and Kevin Clark of Kent were with six white colleagues at the July 10 Brady Lake parade registering voters when ``vague'' descriptions of two black car thieves were broadcast over police radios.The thieves, according to the suit, had crashed their stolen car 20 to 30 miles from Brady Lake.However, three officers drew their weapons and forced Dorsey and Clark to the ground over the protests of the pair's white colleagues, who were vouching for their whereabouts, according to the suit.The two were taken to the Ravenna post of the State Highway Patrol and released, according to the suit.Portage County Sheriff Duane Kaley, Portage County Prosecutor Victor Vigluicci, and officials at the Highway Patrol post couldn't be reached for comment.The case, filed in federal court, was assigned to U.S. District Judge James Gwin.

Please Support and Contribute to help us fight this case in court. All contributions will be appreciated.
Dorsey and Clark Legal Defense Fund,
First Merit Bank, Kent Office,
1729 State Route 59
Kent, Ohio 44240

We have had a preliminary meeting with all parties involved. The case is slated for Federal Court in Cleveland, Ohio on July 25, 2005.

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