‘Don’t Hit My A–!’: Black Chicago Officer Claims Racial Profiling During Arizona Tire Incident in New Lawsuit

Without his law enforcement credentials, Jalen Woods encountered the harsh reality of being perceived as a mere suspicious Black man when Tempe Police pulled him over in Arizona last year for allegedly chirping his tires. The Chicago officer is now pursuing legal action against the Tempe Police Department, claiming violations of his First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and alleging false arrest, malicious prosecution, gross negligence, defamation, and racial discrimination.According to his attorney, Benjamin Taylor, Woods' civil liberties were infringed upon as the police conducted an unlawful stop and search lacking probable cause. The incident occurred on August 23, 2024, shortly after Woods arrived in Phoenix for a friend’s birthday celebration. Reports indicate he was driving a rented Dodge Hellcat when the officers accosted him. Despite Woods’ profession as a police officer, his insistence was disregarded, and he was subjected to humiliating treatment before being unjustly jailed. The consequences included administrative leave and emotional distress stemming from unsanitary conditions in custody. (Photo: Body Camera)