MADISON HEIGHTS (WWJ) – A lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges Madison Heights police officers used excessive force against a man who had given ice cream to his neighbor’s kids.
The incident happened on July 23, 2022, when officers were called to a home in Madison Heights because a neighbor alleged 74-year-old Larry White had given his kids ice cream.
The lawsuit, filed by Marko Law PLLC and Somberg Law PLLC, alleges the officers violated White’s Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights when they “unlawfully pushed their way into Mr. White’s home, and forcefully grabbed his arm in an attempt to pull him out.”
The lawyers say there was “no ongoing emergency or danger, and all parties were in their respective homes” when officers showed up, but after trying to pull him out of the home, things escalated.
“Multiple officers then tackled Mr. White and tasered him several times despite his pleas to stop because of his heart condition,” a press release says. “An officer then unholstered Mr. White’s own legally registered gun while he was being held face-down on the ground and put it to the back of his head execution style.”
The lawsuit alleges White never threatened the safety of the officers and did not make any verbal threats. It claims he “never actively resisted the officers, and he never attempted to evade arrest.”
Body camera footage released by the law firms shows the neighbor who made the complaint claiming he had told White multiple times in the past not to approach his children and to not give them candy or other sweets, like ice cream.
The neighbor is heard telling officers that White “grabbed the kids and took them inside the house.”
“You’ve got to understand, there’s nothing innocent about this,” the neighbor told police. “I’ve told the guy a dozen times, ‘don’t even look at my kids, man.’”
“He’s trying to lure my kids over there in his house all the time and today he did it,” the neighbor said.
In a profane retelling of the events, the neighbor said when he went to White’s house to get his kids back White pulled out a pistol and said “what are you going to do, b***h?”
White is heard multiple times on the body camera footage referring to his neighbor as a "drug addict" and a "screwball."
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During the arrest inside White’s home video shows officers struggling on the ground and telling White to put his hands behind his back. Shortly after he brings his arm behind his back, one officer grabs the gun out of White’s holster and points it at his head, before placing it on his back.
“You f***ing idiot, going for your f***ing gun, what the hell’s wrong with you?” one officer is heard saying as the handcuffs are put on.
Due to an obstructed view, it is unclear whether White reached for the gun.
The lawsuit alleges that the officers “then caused criminal charges to be initiated against Mr. White by making false statements to prosecutors.” The charges were later dismissed in court, according to Marko Law.
The Madison Heights Police Department was also ordered to destroy Mr. White’s fingerprints and arrest card because they were illegally obtained, according to the lawsuit.
As a result of the incident and subsequent court process, White has “suffered physical injuries as well as fear, emotional distress, humiliation, and loss of reputation,” the lawsuit claims.
We trust police officers to keep us safe and ensure that our rights are protected. The officers’ conduct here goes directly against their duties to the public.
“Police shouldn’t break into a home and brutalize a veteran for being a good neighbor and giving some kids ice cream,” White’s attorney, Jonathan Marko said. “We firmly believe in upholding the rights of every individual, and we are committed to seeking justice for Mr. Larry Vance White. White should be given a medal, not have his life ruined.”
WARNING: The following body camera videos contain profanity and images that may be disturbing.
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