Kershawn Grigsby claims he was minding his own business in July 2024, driving his Cadillac Escalade with his family inside, when something awful happened. The situation was so bad and so frightening to Grigsby and his children that he filed a federal lawsuit. The suit names multiple law enforcement officers in Spokane, Washington, who allegedly mistook Grigsby, a 40-year-old Black man, for a white man in his 50s wanted for murder.
According to court documents obtained by the Atlanta Black Star, police were looking for a white male with gray hair in a stolen SUV matching the description of Grigsby’s. An officer reportedly rammed into the father’s SUV to stop him from driving. Officers then surrounded the vehicle with guns drawn and threatened to kill Grigsby.
“They told Mr. Grigsby’s children he was wanted for murder, handcuffed him at gunpoint, and searched the family car without consent,” according to the lawsuit, the Black Star reported.
After officers realized they had the wrong suspect, they reportedly drove off, leaving Grigsby with a damaged SUV and terrified children.
Per the Black Star, Spokane police officer Connor Tangeman, a defendant in the lawsuit, reportedly tried to make himself a victim. He wrote in his police report that the children were crying and screaming in the car.
“There were multiple people in the back seats of the Cadillac. Everyone in the Cadillac was noncompliant and screaming at me,” he wrote in his report. “I told them this Cadillac was reported stolen and seen leaving the scene of a homicide. I continued to tell people to keep their hands up. The driver and passenger cursed at me telling me we had the wrong vehicle.”
According to court documents, police were looking for a white suspect, Shannon Quattlebaum, in his 50s or 60s, driving a Cadillac Escalade with license plate CJF9999. Instead, they pulled Grigsby over, driving a Cadillac Escalade with the Washington license CFA9696, per the Black Star. The numbers were close, but not close enough, and the driver didn’t match the description at all.
The lawsuit claims multiple officers arrived on the scene and drew weapons at Grigsby and the family. Police ultimately recognized they had the wrong person handcuffed and let Grigsby go, the Black Star reported. He may not have wound up in jail, but the day definitely traumatized his family. The suit claims police violated Grigsby’s Fourth Amendment rights by way of unlawful seizure, excessive force, and unlawful search.
“For the Grigsby family, the terror of that day lives with them,” the lawsuit reads. “Minor C.C., who until then dreamed of being a police officer, now fears them.”
What a sad day for a father and his kids. They’ll likely never forget the fear they felt watching an innocent man standing in handcuffs. It seems police could have avoided the situation if someone had paid a bit more attention to detail.
