Another Goon Squad victim sued Rankin County and the former deputies who tortured him during a traffic stop in federal court.
Alan Schmidt sued Rankin County, several John Does, and former Rankin County deputies Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Daniel Opdyke, and Brett McAlpin in U.S. District Court this week.
The complaint claims the deputies assaulted him during a December 4, 2022 traffic stop. The lawsuit alleges:
11. On or about December 4, 2022, the plaintiff was pulled over by John Doe number 1, an unidentified African American Rankin County Sheriff’s deputy under the pretext of a traffic violation. However, Christian Dedmon arrived at the scene of the traffic stop soon thereafter and had John Doe #1 to escort the handcuffed plaintiff to Dedmon’s vehicle. 12. While the plaintiff was already handcuffed, Dedmon pushed the plaintiff’s head forcefully into the wheel fender of Dedmon’s vehicle. By this time, McAlpin, Elward and Opdyke had arrived on the scene, along with John Doe #2. While the plaintiff was being held down on the ground and handcuffed, Dedmon McAlpin, Elward and Opdyke began beating the plaintiff with closed fists about his face. Meanwhile John Doe #2 held the plaintiff’s hands and arm in a bed of ants. 13. During this time, Defendant Dedmon discharged his firearm near the plaintiff’s head in an attempt to get the plaintiff to disclose the location of some equipment which the plaintiff had taken from a relative of Dedmon. Dedmon further took the taser belonging to or assigned to Defendant Elward and tased the plaintiff approximately three times in his back.... 15. Defendant Dedmon instructed Defendant Elward to force the plaintiff to his knees. At that time, Dedmon pulled out his penis and attempted to rub his penis into the face of the plaintiff. 16. Later, Defendant Dedmon threatened to have the plaintiff killed in the jail if the plaintiff reported what happened. 17. Defendants Dedmon and Elward transported the plaintiff to Schmidt in Hinds County, Mississippi the location of the equipment which the plaintiff had allegedly taken from Dedmon’s relative. Only afterward was the plaintiff transported to the Rankin County Jail for booking.
Schmidt claims the unidentified black deputy did not participate in the brutality but did not intervene to stop it.
The complaint charges the defendants with violating U.S. Code 1983 while violating his fourth and fourteenth amendment rights, The plaintiff seeks economic and non-economic damages and attorney's fees. However, Alan Schmidt did not just ask for money in his lawsuit but also asked for the appointment of a Receiver over the Rankin County Sheriff's Office.
Attorney Trenton Walker represents the plaintiff.
The former deputies are incarcerated in federal prison after pleading guilty to torturing and abusing Schmidt and two black men in Rankin County. The sentences are:
- Christian Dedmon, 29, former Narcotics Investigator of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
- Brett McAlpin, 53, former RCSO Chief Investigator, was sentenced to 27.25 years in prison.
- Hunter Elward, 31, former RCSO Deputy, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Jeffrey Middleton, 46, former RCSO Lieutenant, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
- Daniel Opdyke, 28, former RCSO Deputy, was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison.
- Joshua Hartfield, 32, former Narcotics Investigator for the Richland Police Department, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
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