Tresa Baldas

Detroit Free Press

A group of African-American activists has taken its complaints about the Detroit Police Department to court, claiming in a new lawsuit that DPD officers are constantly harassing, abusing and mistreating them when they're only trying to make the city a safer place to live

"It is beyond comprehension why New Era Detroit, a peaceful and powerful, people-driven organization, would be done like this," the group states in a federal lawsuit, claiming Detroit police consistently disrupt its events and mistreat its members, including one woman whose hair was ripped out at its roots, allegedly by a police officer.

"This has become a disgraceful, repetitious and violent pattern in the Detroit Police Department's dealings with New Era Detroit, and must be stopped," the lawsuit states.

Detroit police have not yet filed a response to the lawsuit, which was filed July 20. Neither has the city of Detroit, which is also a named a defendant. As of Monday, DPD spokesman Mike Woody said he had not yet seen the lawsuit.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan has previously said that he's willing to meet with the group to discuss its concerns.

The 87-page lawsuit on file in U.S. District Court centers largely on a June 7 incident when five New Era Detroit members were arrested following a dispute between one of its members and police.

Black group alleges members arrested and assaulted by Detroit Police

Here, according to the lawsuit, is what happened:

On June 7, at about 10:40 p.m., near Grand River and Wyoming, a New Era Detroit volunteer who was working neighborhood patrols was pulled over by police for having a green light attached to his vehicle. Police arrested him for having the green light — even though it was approved by Detroit Police Chief James Craig — and then called a tow truck to remove the vehicle.

Several other group members then showed up to find out what was going on. Police arrested five of them, punching them and slamming some of them, the lawsuit alleges, then jailed them for two nights and took DNA swabs. They were never charged.

One of those arrested was Mikera Manning, 34, secretary of New Era Detroit, who said she was kicked, slammed and had her braids yanked out by a police officer. She said another woman was punched several times by another officer.

"It was absolutely terrifying," Manning told the Free Press. "We got really roughed up. I was scared."

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A police report of the incident described the members of New Era Detroit as being hostile and aggressive. The group and its attorney deny that. Members say they didn't threaten the officers and were complying with orders.

According to the police report, the volunteer who was pulled over argued with the officer and said he didn't have to show him anything. He eventually produced an ID and was found to not have a valid driver's license or registration. He was issued a ticket, and the police said the car had to be towed.

Other members of New Era Detroit then started to show up, with five of them getting arrested.

According to the police report, two group members stood between the tow truck and the vehicle it was going to take away, though New Era Detroit says that's not true. Instead, the group says, an officer kept telling the two volunteers to move back as he moved toward them, placing his hand on his gun, threatening to shoot.

A video captured by a New Era Detroit member shows police cars racing to the scene, with one crashing into a pole as it arrives.

According to the lawsuit, when New Era Detroit first formed, Detroit Police Chief James Craig expressed full support for its street patrol mission, along with many of its other programs. But over time, police harassed and mistreated the group, the lawsuit claims.

"We love our people and are doing everything in our power to help our people," the group states. "This is a way to prevent a fire, by attacking the first signs of smoke."

Free Press staff writer Niraj Warikoo contributed to this report. Contace Tresa Baldas at tbaldas@freepress.com