North Myrtle Beach Attorneys Move Forward with Settlement in Civil Rights Case
North Myrtle Beach is buzzing with news this week as the city’s attorneys gear up to present a critical settlement proposal to city council members. This comes in the wake of a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by La’Nisha Hemingway, a young woman who asserts that she was wrongfully detained at gunpoint during a traffic stop last May.
A Shocking Incident
As some of you might recall, on May 3, La’Nisha was pulled over while driving her Dodge Charger in the 4500 block of Highway 17 South. She was on her way to celebrate a friend’s high school graduation when this unsettling incident occurred. Officers reportedly thought they were stopping a car linked to a theft, but it turns out they had confused her Charger for a Dodge Challenger. Yikes!
The moment was tense, with bodycam and dashcam footage showing an officer aiming a gun at her car and ordering La’Nisha to exit the vehicle. As the video unfolds, it reveals La’Nisha being instructed to get on her knees and subsequently handcuffed. Can you imagine the shock and fear during that moment? After a few minutes, officers realized their mistake—an officer could be heard saying, “that’s not it,” when referring to the actual stolen car. They quickly removed her handcuffs, allowing her to drive away. It’s hard to wrap your head around how a simple traffic stop spiraled so wildly out of control.
The Legal Battle
Fast forward to June, when La’Nisha decided to take matters into her own hands and filed her lawsuit against not only the city and the involved officers, Mike Pacileo and Kayla Wallace, but also Police Chief Dana Crowell. She’s claiming negligence, false imprisonment, negligence in hiring and supervision, and a breach of her civil rights. It’s definitely no small matter.
Progress Toward Resolution
As the parties have recently had a mediation session, they’ve reported making some “significant progress” towards a potential settlement. This report was shared during a session held at the U.S. District Court in Florence. Both La’Nisha’s legal team and the city’s attorneys expressed optimism about reaching an agreement. And who wouldn’t want to avoid a drawn-out court battle?
The city council is slated to consider this settlement proposal on Monday, giving them some time to think it over. They have until November 8 to decide whether to accept the terms. It’s important to note that the city generally isn’t one to comment on issues that are still in litigation, so it’s a bit of a “wait and see” situation.
Looking Ahead
This whole incident raises a lot of questions about police procedures and how we can ensure similar mistakes don’t happen again. For a community that values safety, events like this hit close to home and demand our attention. As this story continues to unfold, we’ll be keeping an eye on developments and urging everyone to stay informed.
In the meantime, whether you’re driving around town or taking a trip along the beautiful coast, make sure to stay safe out there! Always be prepared for anything, and take a moment to review your car emergency kit. You never know when you might need it!
