University of Virginia student Martese Johnson has filed a $3 million lawsuit against the state’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Johnson, an honors student, was thrown to the ground by liquor control agents and arrested in a bloody encounter on Mar. 18.
His detainment outside of Trinity Irish Pub near the campus,sparked massive nation-wide outrage, and charges of public intoxication and obstruction of justice against Johnson were dropped.
“The agents’ brutal and unjustified attack on Martese has left Martese permanently disfigured as there is scarring to Martese’s forehead and scalp,” Johnson’s attorneys wrote in the lawsuit filed earlier this week.
Three agents involved in the arrest are also named– Jared Miller, Thomas Custer and John Cielakie — and the director of the department, Shawn Walker.
Prosecutors declined to charge the agents. The Virginia State Police launched an administrative investigation, and in August, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control cleared the agents of any wrongdoing. They have since returned to work.
Read more at NBC News.
