Two residents of the City of Adrian are suing the city and two police officers, alleging wrongful arrest, retaliation, and a violation of their constitutional rights.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia by Jason and Tiffanie Bennett, alleges the pair was wrongly arrested as victims of a crime due as a form of retaliation for their ongoing vocal opposition to city operations.
The Bennetts are suing the City of Adrian and two Adrian Police Department employees, police officer Kyle Strickland and police officer Michael Milton Sr. Strickland and Milton are being sued in their official capacities as officers of the law and in their individual capacities. The suit notes that Strickland and Milton acted both in and outside the scope of their expected work duties.
Jason Bennett, an online content creator who routinely publishes content regarding the goings on of the City of Adrian, posted videos online about Milton’s alleged unapproved use of the city vehicle, issues with the mayor and council’s irregular salaries, and, in particular, a video in which Milton referred to another police officer as ‘Officer Dildo’ and to the Bennetts as ‘idiots.’ He and his wife have routinely attended city council meetings over the last two years to speak against actions by city officials.
But in April 2024, Bennett was involved in an incident with another male individual regarding the ownership of a vehicle. According to the lawsuit, the individual appeared on Bennett’s property, where a heated discussion took place and resulted in the individual head butting Bennett at least three times and attempting to choke him. While Bennett attempted to defend himself, his wife struck the individual with an object between the shoulder blades and a third person, a male, attempted to pull the individual away from Bennett. The individual ultimately retreated to his vehicle, but not before attempting to use his vehicle to strike Bennett and the other male.
Bennett’s wife called 911 to report the altercation and Bennett called Chief Kyle Strickland. Strickland responded with two Emanuel County deputies, but said he could not contact a judge about warrants against the alleged offender. After interviewing the individual and a reported admission to the assault, Strickland arrested the individual for Disorderly Conduct, a misdemeanor, and he was released on his own recognizance.
Bennett was also treated at the hospital, diagnosed with a concussion, and was left with marks and bruises on his upper body.
Two days after the incident, on April 29, 2024, Bennett contacted Strickland about whether or not additional charges would be filed against the offending party. Strickland said additional charges would not be forthcoming, prompting Bennett to tell Strickland to ‘do his job.’
At 4:30 p.m. the same day, Strickland, defendant Milton, and one other officer arrived at Bennett’s home to arrest him and his wife for Simple Battery (Family Violence). The lawsuit contends that the timing of the arrest was to ensure the Bennetts could not immediately post bond and would have to remain behind bars. On May 1, they were ultimately released on bond – two days after their misdemeanor arrest.
The lawsuit alleges that Strickland began posting on Facebook about the Bennetts and posted a meme which suggested there was a reason he would not help the Bennetts in their dispute. Two weeks after the arrest, Strickland reportedly posted again, saying “Some seem to misunderstand this. What you say and how you say it comes with consequences” with an emoji and a meme about what speech is protected by the First Amendment.
On May 20, 2024, three weeks after the arrest, the charges were dismissed by court officials entirely and prosecution of the Bennetts ended.
Roughly one year later, the lawsuit was formally filed.
“The Defendants were acting under the color of law with a deliberate indifference and reckless disregard for Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights,” the suit reads. “At all times relevant to this Complaint, Defendant(s) had no arguable reasonable suspicion or arguable probable cause for the alleged acts averred herein….There is a causal connection between Plaintiff Jason Bennet’s constitutionally protected activity and adverse effect on such speech. Defendants’ falsely arrested Plaintiffs without probable cause as retaliation for the exercise of such free speech and this satisfies the third element of a causation.”
With regard to the City of Adrian’s role in the incident, the lawsuit reads:
“The violations of Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights under the First and/or Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and the resulting damages, were directly and proximately caused by the actions and/or inactions of Defendant Adrian, which have encouraged, tolerated, ratified, and has been deliberately indifferent to policies, patterns, practices, and customs, and to the need for more or different training, supervision, investigation, or discipline as to related to the acts and/or omissions alleged herein.”
The suit requests a jury trial, attorneys fees, and “punitive damages against Defendants Strickland and Milton based upon their intentional and reckless conduct.”
The Bennetts are represented by Roland Mumford. More information as well as contact details available here.
