When an officer arrived to the scene, “they were arresting me for saying reserve instead of recruit. Over a mix-up of two words. It was an honest mistake. And I had never previously been informed of what my contingent title was,” she said.

According to the 2016 complaint, Carter-Lawson asked the officer on scene, who responded “(Expletive). Because you ain’t (expletive) until you’re sworn in.”

The suit alleges she was harassed about her sexual identity during the booking process.

Court documents show that case was settled on April 4, 2016. The stipulation of the dismissal was the $1,000 payment to Carter-Lawson and release of her towed vehicle. The city also agreed to throw out a non-disclosure agreement, she said.

Prior to that arrest, Carter-Lawson said she passed the written and agility exams in 2015 in hopes of becoming a police officer. While not yet hired by the department, she said she believes her chance to have a career with the Gary Police Department was ruined with that arrest.

“I believe the Gary Police Department and officials within, purposefully colluded to disqualify me from becoming a Gary Police officer. However, without justifiable explanation, Gary Police Department disqualified me," Carter-Lawson wrote in her latest suit.

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