ST. LOUIS -- Aisha Lindsey and Christian Taylor filed a federal complaint on August 14 in the Eastern District of Missouri against the City of Breckenridge Hills, Thomas Kinworthy and Paul Rinck for violation of civil rights - excessive force.
According to the complaint, on March 16, 2019, the plaintiffs traveled to Rock Road Auto Plaza after having purchased a 2016 Grey Chevy Cruise LT from Rock Road Auto Plaza two weeks prior. The vehicle was still under warranty and Lindsey took the vehicle in for inspection/repair as the “check engine” light was coming on.
In case Lindsey had to leave her car for repairs, Taylor drove separately and followed Lindsey to the car dealers. Upon arriving, Lindsey and Taylor walked towards the service desk where they observed a female customer having a confrontation with the Rock Road Auto Plaza staff.
Lindsey and Taylor observed the Rock Road Auto Plaza staff tell the woman that the bank did not approve her loan and that Rock Road Auto Plaza was keeping her vehicle. At that point, she became angry, threatened the Rock Road Auto Plaza staff, cursed and threw her coffee at them. Police were called as a result, the suit says.
Lindsey and Taylor were able to talk to the service desk as to why they brought the car in. Taylor was asked, without reason, to wait outside, the suit says. When Taylor asked the staff member why he had to wait outside, the staff member began to get confrontational, the suit says.
In response, Taylor did as asked. Lindsey then asked the Rock Road Auto Plaza staff member to look at her car because of the check engine light, the suit says. The Rock Road Auto Plaza staff member again repeated he was not a mechanic and also stated that they wouldn’t look at her car until Taylor left their lot, the suit says.
Lindsey then heard a Rock Road Auto Plaza staff member calling the police again, alleging that Taylor was being loud and confrontational, despite Taylor being outside and smoking a cigarette, the suit says. Lindsey and Taylor waited for the police, with the intention of filing a report, the suit says.
Officer Kinworthy arrived at the Rock Road Auto Plaza after a few moments and approached Lindsey and Taylor. After Kinworthy asked a few questions that both answered, Kinworthy allegedly grabbed Taylor’s left wrist. Rinck arrived on the Rock Road Auto Plaza lot, parked his patrol car, exited his vehicle and allegedly immediately pepper sprayed Taylor in the face.
An altercation continued as Taylor was allegedly told to get on the ground, put his hands on his hood and was handcuffed; he went to the hospital due to his injuries. the suit says.
Lindsey and Taylor seek compensatory damages, attorney's fees and cost of suit. Lindsey and Taylor are represented by James W. Schottel.
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri Eastern Division case number 4:21-cv-01018-DDN