Woman sues Washtenaw County sheriff's deputy, alleging assault, false arrest
An Ypsilanti woman has filed a lawsuit alleging that a Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputy “violently grabbed her hand” and fractured her finger when she refused to hand him her cell phone last summer at Washtenaw County Circuit Court.
Sheilisia Williams is suing Deputy Vern Usher and the county, alleging false arrest, false imprisonment, assault and battery and violations of her constitutional rights.
The lawsuit, filed Aug. 25 in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, seeks an unspecified amount of money. Usher said this morning he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit and declined comment.
According to the lawsuit, Williams left a courtroom about 11 a.m. July 1, 2010, at the court on East Huron Street when Usher approached her in a hallway and demanded her cell phone. When she refused to hand it over, the lawsuit says Usher grabbed her hand, fracturing her left pinkie. The suit alleges Usher used vulgar language, handcuffed her and put her in a holding cell for a brief period of time.
Williams’ attorney, Gordana Misovski, said Williams went to an emergency room at a local hospital for treatment. Misovski said no charges were filed against Williams, who filed a complaint with the sheriff's department.
“She has lost some feeling in her hand and her range of motion is significantly depressed,” Misovski said.
Misovski said Williams was in court because Williams' brother was dealing with a ticket.
Misovski said she did not know whether Williams had permission to bring the phone in the building or whether it had a camera. In general, cell phones with cameras are prohibited from being in the building.
Attorney Curtis Hedger, who represents the county, could not be reached for comment this morning.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Donttasemebro
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Another chance at the ghetto lottery! Do wrong, get caught and blame someone else!
OLDTIMER3
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:17 p.m.
@engineer Is the dirt bike street egal or licensed? If not you were in the wrong so you should have been ticketed. As to the woman with the broken ( supposedly by the officer) finger you should have surrended it when told to. She obviously had it in her hand or the officer wouldn't have seen it. Probably had the broken finger before she went in to court.
gofigure
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
"Misovski said Williams was in court because Williams' brother was dealing with a ticket." Why was she there? IMO, there doesn't seem to be a valid reason why she would need to be there. Maybe next time she should just wait in the car.
Enso
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.
I wonder if the conservatives would be so willing to be on the cops side if the woman was pretty, white, and named 'Sarah," or "Michelle."
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:59 a.m.
Yep, because nobody ever has anything bad to say about anybody named "Sarah" or "Michelle". Jeeze, I hate it when people say such idiotic things that I find myself standing up for people I don't even like.
Nephilim
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:43 a.m.
Conveniently Sarah and Michelle was the names chosen.......I'll one up ya. What if it was Sarah Michelle Gellar? I bet you'd see some favoritism there now wouldn't ya? I'm saying hale to the yea!!!!!
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:28 a.m.
"I wonder if the conservatives would be so willing to be on the cops side if the woman was pretty, white," I didn't see a picture, is she ugly? Do you know her? Are you playing the race card already? I don't see any mention of her race. Did I miss something? I didn't see a lot of love for Dillon Pierce either. Do you remember what color he was? I already forgot. How about the hockey embezzler lady? No love there either. Give your tired race baiting a rest.
Roadman
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:14 a.m.
"....(attorney) Misovski said she didn't know whether Williams had permission to bring the phone in the building or whether it had a camera...." Sounds like Ms. Misovski perhaps should have done some more pre-suit investigation about the facts underlying her client's claim and, also, prior to making statements to the media.
Engineer
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 12:29 a.m.
I would not side with the sheriff so fast. I got three tickets for riding an enduro dirt bike on a dirt road with my son on a Sunday afternoon after restoring it. The sheriff lost them when I asked for copies a couple of days later so she wrote another three violations. I had to waste a days vacation in court to strighten out. Judge never seem to want to punish sheriff for false tickets. Just laughed it off after asking if I had been pulled over twice in 5 minutes. The sheriff and her boss who authorized such false allegations should have both been fired. No ethics what so ever. I never ever trust the Washtenaw sheriff department after this and I now know the courts will NOT set the record stright. Writing tickets from your desk with the incorrect time should be illegal.
jjc155
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
what were the violations that you were cited for Engineer (you failed to mention them in you attempt to get people on ur side)?
Nephilim
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
i guess how does this have anything to do with the court deputies? You do understand that they are all retired and DO NOT work the road nor have the capability of writing you three tickets for riding your dirt bike on a dirt road. Which only begs the question three tickets? Sunday afternoon? Same day? This story is severly lacking some more information also. There is an old one word saying when telling a story that may not totally be in your favor: minimize. I do believe Mr/Mrs Engineer that you have severly minimized this story.
Smart Logic
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 12:57 a.m.
I won't argue that your situation wasn't bad. It sounds like you got a bad deal and they did the wrong thing. However, that does not take away from the point that the vast majority of us follow the rules and comply with reasonable orders from law enforcement. She obviously did not and paid the price. Did the deputy in question make a mistake? Time will tell, perhaps. Did she make a mistake? Multiple, without a single doubt.
Roadman
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
This is one of many controversial allegations made involving the Wastenaw County Circuit Court. See e.g. <a href="http://www.a2buzz.org" rel='nofollow'>www.a2buzz.org</a> What in blazes goes on therein?
Concerned Citizen
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 11:07 p.m.
Referring people to a website that hasn't been updated since 2006 and has broken links is not helping your cause. Let me know if you need help making it presentable.
mannyredline
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 9:10 p.m.
They sheriff's down there are thugs. The judges and administrators use them to impede the administration of justice.
Sarah Parviz
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 5:18 p.m.
Hilarious! Obviously you have no clue how sensitive the deputies are in this county. These are professionals, not thugs. They do the job they are LEGALLY SWORN to do, and they do not need to wrap their requests in butterfly kisses. I am 42, I have NEVER had my finger broken in a tussle with an officer of the court - imagine that.
Nephilim
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
I seriously just about tipped over........Have you actually ever spoke to any of them guys on a professional or normal non confrontational manner? These old time coppers are about as docile as you will ever find. I honestly dont think their heartbeat gets much over resting. They are all there to help.....well, i guess maybe not you Manny. sorry you must be the only one...wonder why?
Michigan Man
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
Sounds like Manny is very familiar with and a self-appointed expert on the Washtenaw County criminal justice system!
nowayjose
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Spoken like a true criminal
Ron Granger
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 8:07 p.m.
How did the deputy know she had the cell phone? It must have been visible. Was she talking on the phone, and refused to stop? It is one thing to ignore the rules of a restaurant when you are waiting in line, etc. But if you ignore the lawful order of a deputy in a court house? Not so much.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
Jeeze. Maybe ole Sheilisia should have just followed rules. Or failing that, maybe handed the cell phone over? Nah! That way is too easy, and nobody shows you the money.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 3:24 a.m.
No, Enzo; After thinking about it YOU are right. She should just be able to do whatever she wants as long as she wants with no escalation and no consequences. Those rules are, after all, for other people. Not her. I love this town.
Enso
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
No, you're right. The cop should have escalated the situation to physical violence.
alarictoo
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
What's the old say..."there are three sides to every story." All we've seen here is her's. And honestly it is pretty boring. Not sure why this is even considered newsworthy.
alarictoo
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 6:31 p.m.
saying. d'oh!
trespass
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 6:13 p.m.
It takes considerable force to break a finger. Bringing a cell phone into the court house is a violation of court house rules but it does not pose a danger to anyone, including the officer, so confiscating it should not require sufficient force to break a finger. Also, the appropriate remedy for refusing to give up the cell phone is to be escorted out of the building not arrested. Once again law enforcement responds by making a crime out of refusing to follow their orders rather than simply a violation of court house rules and escorting her out. They were probably worried that they would be in trouble for missing the cell phone during the initial security screen.
Ron Granger
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:41 p.m.
"Bringing a cell phone into the court house is a violation of court house rules but it does not pose a danger to anyone" It actually does pose a danger. While the limited number of security officers are dealing with her and other trivialities, they are not available to focus on serious threats.
Nephilim
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1 a.m.
and you wholeheartedly believe her side of this incident not to mention obtained enough information from this article to come up with that conclusion? Interesting......very interesting.
Michigan Man
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
When this woman loses her suit any and all associated expenses borne by the generous taxpaying citizens of Washtenaw County should be reimbursed to the County by this woman and/or her lawyer.
Roadman
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 10:43 p.m.
Dollars to donuts the county will pay out a settlement in this case.
Smart Logic
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
Sounds like a cash grab. Maybe now she'll take note of the signs saying to not bring phones in and won't refuse when asked to comply with the rules like the rest of us do.
glimmertwin
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:48 p.m.
Hopefully she won't need to take too much time off from her job to handle her legal issues.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
Vern is a very nice and helpfull man, I think this is about getting free money.
Roadman
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:19 a.m.
I personally have never had a problem with the deputies at the circuit courthouse in the last 20 years. Some people do have an "attitude" when going through metal detectors and having to stop so deputies can investigate possible prohibited items that activate the detectors. I prefer the security personnel deterring possible instances where you could have an estranged spouse bringing in a weapon during a contentious divorce.
A2Woman
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
I'm not sure which one is Vern, but the many years I've been going there for FOC matters, they have all been very friendly and respectful - always! No cell phones is nothing new.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:38 p.m.
I wonder if she deliberately brought it in? I accidentally "snuck" a cell phone into the courthouse when I was in filing for divorce. I had locked my phone up in my car when I went in, but forgot I had my daughter's phone (with camera) that I'd confiscated from her, in my purse. It was scanned and everything and nothing was said. I didn't realize it until later in the day. No one tried to grab it from me, though, and it never left my purse. But, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that it's not impossible to get those things past security, even unknowingly.
gofigure
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.
Assuming it was not intentionally brought in, any reasonable person if asked by Officer to hand it over would have.
thecompound
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
It would help to know if she was using the cell phone at the time of the encounter vs having it in her purse
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
Oh, I agree that there's more there than meets the eye. And, I've found the deputies working at the courthouse to be very pleasant and extremely helpful. Even the one in question. (I've seen him there a few times.) What I meant, though, by my comment is that those things can be taken in. Inadvertently, in my case. But, it can and does happen. I'm proof of it. (To err is human, right?)
RuralMom
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
Have to say not once ever, have the deputies missed my cellphone, nor have they allowed one through with a camera on it. There has to be more to this story than meets the eye. The deputies don't generally "approach" people in the hallway for the heck of it. I have seen a judge let people go (and tell them to come back) when there are no deputies in the court room & someone has been sentenced or bond revoked, so they don't just wildly roam the hallways looking for people to shake down! Something doesn't add up here with the entire synopsis of how this went down.