In a troubling incident that has sparked legal action, a Black Army lieutenant is suing two Virginia police officers after they held him at gunpoint and used pepper spray during a traffic stop. The lieutenant, whose name has been changed to Marcus Allen for this account, is a member of the U.S. Army Medical Corps and was in uniform at the time of the encounter, which occurred in December.
According to the lawsuit filed earlier this month, Allen was driving from a drill weekend to Petersburg when he was pulled over in what the officers described as a “felony traffic stop.” After stopping at a well-lit gas station in Windsor, Virginia, the officers immediately began shouting commands at him. In video footage from the incident, one officer can be seen aiming his gun at Allen while he expresses his fear of exiting the vehicle.
At one point during the confrontation, Allen stated, “I’m serving this country, and this is how I’m treated?”—a moment captured both on his cellphone and the officers’ body cameras. Following this, one officer approached Allen and sprayed him with pepper spray. After Allen exited the vehicle, the officer struck him behind the knees and threatened to use a Taser if he did not comply with their orders.
The officers subsequently warned Allen that if he filed a complaint, he could face charges such as obstruction, eluding, and assaulting a law enforcement officer—charges that could jeopardize his military career. Allen has since engaged legal representation to pursue justice for what he describes as a violation of his constitutional rights.
The officers claim they stopped Allen due to his vehicle lacking visible license plates; however, he had temporary plates displayed inside the rear window as he awaited permanent ones. The officers also alleged that he had failed to stop promptly when they activated their lights and sirens, which they cited as justification for the aggressive approach.
On April 2, Allen initiated a lawsuit against the officers, seeking at least $1 million in damages for excessive force and racial profiling. His attorney emphasized the irony of the situation, noting that Allen has sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, and this incident raises serious concerns about police conduct. The encounter has reportedly left Allen feeling deeply unsettled and anxious about potential retaliation.
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In summary, the encounter involving Lieutenant Marcus Allen and the two Virginia police officers has raised serious questions about police conduct and racial profiling, leading to a lawsuit that seeks accountability and justice.