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Lawsuit claims Springfield police officers dumped out toddler's remains during traffic stop

Lawsuit claims 2 Springfield police officers dumped toddler’s remains out during traffic stop
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Springfield Police Department faces a lawsuit after allegedly mishandling the remains of a toddler while taking her father into custody.

Dartavius Barnes said two Springfield police officers desecrated his 2-year-old daughter's ashes during a traffic stop in April 2020.


New bodycam footage showed an officer pulling the urn out of Barnes' car console, claiming that the remains tested positive for methamphetamine or ecstasy.

Barnes is heard pleading from his car for the remains to be left alone.

"That's my daughter. Bro, that's my daughter. What are y'all doing?  No no, no, no no, that is my daughter in there," Barnes told officers.

The officer then dumped the ashes out of the container.

Barnes' daughter Ta'Naja died of neglect and starvation while in the care of her mother in early 2019.

The officers named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations.