Dorian Johnson, key witness in the Michael Brown case, is now seeking justice for his alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Ferguson Police Department. For those who may have forgotten, Johnson made headlines with the Brown case because he was actually with the unarmed teen at the time of the fatal shooting.
He also coined the controversial protesters’ mantra, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot,” because he disputed former Ferguson officer Darren Wilson’s claims about Brown charging toward him. Brown was fatally shot by Wilson during the horrific confrontation when Johnson reportedly ran for cover behind a nearby car.
Last week, Johnson reportedly filed a civil lawsuit in St. Louis County Circuit Court against the police department and Wilson. According to the St. Louis Business Journal , the lawsuit was filed due to Johnson’s claims of “psychological” scarring and “emotional distress” following the fatal shooting of his close friend.
The lawsuit is reportedly seeking $25,000 in damages , including punitive, citing a number of injustices highlighted in the Department of Justice’s investigative report, according to CBS News. Johnson’s lawsuit also includes an injunction to stop unlawful and discriminatory police practices from occurring within the city’s police department.
Fox 2 Now reports Johnson is accusing Wilson of “intentional assault” because he stopped him “him without justification, withdrawing his weapon, and threatening to discharge it.”
“We have to get past this idea that you can stop folks for no reason, you can harass them,” said attorney James Williams of New Orleans, who’s leading Johnson’s legal team. “You can get out of your car, you can shoot at them, and if you don’t draw blood, it’s no harm-no foul. That’s just not the case under the law.”
The lawsuit comes months after Johnson became the center of controversy due to his questionable statement about the series of events that led to Brown’s death. At one point, Darren Wilson supporters were even demanding Johnson be charged with perjury, but to no avail. Although Johnson’s claims may have merit, there is one new issue that has turned heads. Apparently, Wilson was arrested after being accused of approaching an officer to prohibit an arrest. He was also seen “discarding suspected narcotics on the ground,” reports CNN.
It has been reported that Johnson may be charged as early as Thursday, May, 7.
[Image via KDSK]