North Myrtle Beach, SC – A young woman has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the City of North Myrtle Beach, their Chief of Police, Dana Crowell, and two officers from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department (NMBPD), Mike Pacileo and Kayla Wallace. La’Nisha Hemingway, 18, alleges that she was wrongfully detained and handcuffed at gunpoint during an inappropriate traffic stop last month.
The lawsuit stems from an alleged incident that took place on May 3. Hemingway, who had just graduated from high school, was on her way to a celebratory event with friends and was driving on Highway 17 South when she was stopped by police officers. According to the documents in the lawsuit, a license plate reader incorrectly identified Hemingway’s car, a dark grey Dodge Charger, leading to her detainment.
Officers Pacileo and Wallace demanded Hemingway exit her vehicle and walk backwards towards them, handcuffing her at gunpoint. Her car was then searched without what the lawsuit claims was appropriate probable cause or a proper warrant.
Shortly after detaining Hemingway, the officers realized they had stopped the wrong vehicle. The lawsuit points out the officers’ acknowledgment of their mistake, which was apparently caught on body camera footage. In the three-minute-long video, Officer Wallace is heard saying that Hemingway’s car “isn’t it.”
Hemingway’s family has said the incident has had a deep impact on her. Her grandmother, Janet, mentioned Hemingway’s demeanor changing drastically after the event. She said, “She’s not the same anymore. She’s quiet, keeps to herself, she’s distant.”
Hemingway’s attorney, Tyler Bailey, called for better training for law enforcement on traffic stops and civilian interactions and more accountability surrounding the use of license plate reader technology.
No comment regarding the pending litigation was made by The North Myrtle Beach Police Department. The status of Officers Pacileo and Wallace, both of whom have been previously recognized for their work, is undefined currently.
Bailey voiced his client’s demand for justice and accountability in this situation. He said, “What we’re seeking is full justice and accountability for what La’Nisha has gone through; this traumatizing experience that is sticking with her today…” The incident highlights a dangerous instance of an improper traffic stop and fosters further discussion for change in law enforcement practices.
