Lionel Womack was driving back from a business trip this August when a police vehicle behind him signaled him to pull over. Kansas's Kiowa County Deputy Jeremy Rodriguez was at the wheel.
Womack didn't know why he was being pulled over. Nor did he know that Rodriguez had radioed for help from police in two other counties. After Womack pulled over on a dirt road and was talking to Rodriguez, he saw two other patrol vehicles racing towards them.
Womack had thorough experience with police department mores. His wife and mother work in law enforcement in Kansas. His stepfather is a retired police sergeant. Two of Womack's aunts work dispatch. Womack himself had quit his job as a police detective to start his own security firm.
Womack's wife filed a federal lawsuit last year alleging “rampant racism and sexism” in her own police department.
In short, Womack was scared. He panicked and ran across a field with the officers in vehicular pursuit. When Rodriguez caught up with Womack, he ran Womack over, causing extensive, painful injuries to his back, pelvis, and legs. The police vehicles' dash cams recorded the incident, including Womack's arms and legs flailing after the vehicle rolled over him.
Four months later, guess who's in jail?
That's right -- Womack. He had a warrant stemming from another traffic stop in Oklahoma. He's facing felony charges of attempting to elude a law enforcement officer by engaging in reckless driving and interference with a law enforcement officer.
Rodriguez is living and working undisturbed despite Womack's requests to the Kiowa County Sheriff to fire him.
On Friday, Womack filed suit against Rodriguez for excessive force and for depriving him of his rights under the 4th and 14th amendments.
Considering what happened to Womack and the experience of his family in law enforcement, we're highly skeptical that a minority member can expect even-handed policing in Kansas. It sounds as if Womack expected to be lynched. Sometime soon, we'll find out if he will be represented fairly in a Kansas court of law.
Given the wording of the lawsuit, which references federal civil rights, we suspect that the lawsuit will also move on to the federal courts later, if not sooner.
What would Justice look like in this case?
Is it possible that Lionel Womack deserved to be pulled over repeatedly, or is he being stopped for Driving While Black?
Do you think it was reasonable for Womack to panic and run?
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