BLM alleges 'pattern of violent behavior' by Lakeland Police officers

LAKELAND — Black Lives Matters Restoration Polk Inc. is calling for a federal investigation into the Lakeland Police Department on what it says is a "pattern of violent behavior."

The activist group's claims focus on four police interactions that span a period of 13 months, from November 2021 to July 2022. Family members, who say the interactions were captured on video, have since reached out to BLM and the faith-based civil rights group Poor and Minority Justice Association since the Dec. 18 arrest of Antwon Glover.

Related:Lakeland police officers accused of punching man at traffic stop put on modified duty

Also:Polk BLM calls for arrest of 4 Lakeland officers, removal of new police chief

Carl Soto, BLM co-founder and vice president, said despite the individuals being strangers to each other, their cases are connected as all involve the same police officers: Sgt. Mark Eby, Detective Dillion Cornn, and Officers Jason McCain and Anton Jefferson.

Here are the four cases BLM is calling for a further investigation of:

Armani Evans

On Nov. 14, 2021, Carrie Cline said her son, Armani Evans, 27 at the time, was in the parking lot of Wild Greg’s Saloon off U.S. Highway 98. McCain and Jefferson were working an off-duty detail at the bar in their unmarked Black Ford Explorer, according to a police affidavit. The officers were patrolling the parking lot.

The officers approached Evans who was sitting inside his car with an unidentified Black male, according to police reports.

“He told them he was fixing to go home, which should have been the end of it if they were doing security,” Cline said.

The officers smelled “fresh cannabis” coming from inside the vehicle and saw “shake” - or parts of cannabis flower that break down during handling, according to reports. They asked Evans to step out of the car to begin a search the vehicle.

The police said Evans repeatedly tried to walk up behind the officer searching the vehicle, despite being told to stay at the back of the vehicle. Jefferson said he grabbed Evan and he pulled away, beginning to resist officers. In his affidavit, Jefferson said Evans lunged into the car to grab a backpack and began running away from the vehicle.

McCain deployed his a taser, but Jefferson said it did not appear to affect Evans, so he deployed his taser as well, according to his report. The police reported Evans continued to struggle, grabbing at their tasers.

Rejected:Lakeland denies permit needed to convert former church to special events venue

Cline, speaking on behalf of her son, said McCain and Jefferson beat Evans with their tasers until the weapons broke, then pulled out their flashlights and continued hitting her son.

After his arrest, officers reported eight bags of marijuana and two bags of cocaine were inside the backpack, as well as a firearm.

Cline said her son was left with severe injuries, including multiple lacerations to his head and face, had a tooth knocked out, with internal cuts and injuries to his mouth.

“He couldn’t eat for two weeks until he healed up,” she said.

Cline said she believes the officers used excessive force in detaining her son. She called their actions an example of “police brutality.”

Evans is currently being held in jail, not eligible for bond. He faces multiple charges including possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of cocaine, carrying a concealed firearm, battery of a law enforcement officer, depriving an officer of means of protecting the community and resisting an officer with violence. He was last in court Tuesday.

Timothy Davis Jr.

Lakeland resident Timothy Davis Jr., then 22, was getting into his car to head home after work when he said police officers approached his parked car. Davis said the officers stopped him, alleging a failure to wear his seatbelt.

Davis said while talking with officers he was accused of trying to swallow evidence, visibly getting upset on Thursday. His father, Timothy Davis Sr. said officers grabbed his son’s head forcing their hands inside his mouth. He said his son was dragged out of his car by an officer who grabbed his hair, pulling one of his dreadlocks out at the roots.

Davis Jr. said he was physically beaten until he lost consciousness. His injuries from the incident Included a broken jaw, broken right eye socket resulting in partial, permanent vision loss in his right eye.

“They beat me up to shut me up,” he said.

Davis Jr. Faces criminal charges including tampering with physical evidence, battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and possession of cannabis.

Eric Kent

Lakeland resident Eric Kent said his June 20, 2022 encounter with Lakeland police officers started out as a civil code enforcement issue.

Kent said a few days prior, a city code enforcement officer Joie Brownlow had come to his house, warning him of a possible citation for parking his company vehicle in the driveway. Kent said he got into a verbal dispute with Brownlow but denies any physical escalation.

Did you hear it?: Lakeland Electric implodes portions of Unit 3 power plant. See video

Two days later, Kent said McCain pulled up to his house while he was in his garage. Kent said when he attempted to ask what was happening, he was dragged out, tased, knocked to the ground and punched.

Kent was left with facial laceration and injuries to his eye. When attempting to file a complaint at Lakeland Police Department, Kent said Sergeant Mark Eby and McCain persuaded him not to file a complaint alleging they said would help him with the situation. Kent claims the officers threatened to charge him with resisting arrest if he filed the complaint.

Jarvis Washington

BLM Polk’s founder Jarvis Washington was approached by two officers in a black, unmarked SUV while stopped at a gas station on July 15, 2022, according to Soto. Washington was in the car with his fiancée and infant when the officers allegedly came around the back of the vehicle with their guns drawn.

Soto said the officers informed Washington they approached the vehicle with weapons drawn because the license plate was partially obstructed.

Washington got out of the vehicle to speak with officers and they retreated, according to Soto. He believes the officers recognized Washington as a prominent Black activist in the Lakeland community.

Washington was not arrested or charged with any crimes, Soto said. There is no police report of the event. Soto said when he met with the chief Tuesday night, Taylor confirmed McCain and Jefferson had been the officers involved.

Soto said BLM Restoration Polk will help ensure the individuals have legal counsel to pursue civil lawsuits against Lakeland Police Department.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on Twitter @SaraWalshFl.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: BLM alleges 'pattern of violent behavior' by Lakeland Police officers