EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A lawsuit has been filed against the Evansville Police Department after a traffic stop in 2023 allegedly resulted in the use of excessive force by officers. The complaint, which was filed in connection to an incident that occurred on July 18, 2023, claims that police officers violated the rights of two individuals, Trequinn Starks and Quinnyra Wilson, during a routine traffic stop on Riverside Drive.
According to the affidavit, the officers pulled over Starks and Wilson for speeding and making an improper turn. When officers approached the vehicle, Starks reportedly told them that he did not own the car and appeared nervous. This led officers to request that Starks exit the vehicle. The affidavit states that when Starks asked for a reason for the request, officers allegedly responded that they did not need one.
The situation quickly escalated when officers used what was described as “slight force” to remove Starks from the car and bring him to the ground. This moment was captured on bodycam footage, which was provided to the media by Starks and Wilson’s attorney, Jeremy Schnepper. As Starks was on the ground, the video reportedly shows officers noticing a loaded magazine fall from underneath him. An officer can be heard threatening to shoot Starks if he reached for a weapon, while Starks repeatedly denied having a gun.
It was later revealed that the magazine that had fallen was not Starks’ but belonged to one of the officers involved in the altercation, according to the affidavit. Despite Starks’ insistence that he was unarmed, he was held at gunpoint and placed in handcuffs.
Following Starks’ arrest, the situation continued to unfold. Bodycam footage shows officers then approaching Wilson, who was standing nearby. She was reportedly pinned against the car and placed in handcuffs. The lawsuit claims that officers dislocated Wilson’s shoulder during the arrest, another instance of alleged excessive force.
The lawsuit, which is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees, accuses the officers of unreasonably seizing, assaulting, battering, and injuring both Starks and Wilson. These actions, the complaint argues, violated their Fourth Amendment rights, which protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
After the incident, Starks was arrested, but all charges against him were later dropped. Court records indicate that the state was unable to provide witnesses to support the case.
The three officers named in the lawsuit — Taz Cassidy, Kyle Dennis, and Cole Miles — are being held accountable for their actions in connection with the incident. A jury trial has been requested to address the claims of excessive force and constitutional violations.
The Evansville Police Department declined to comment on the lawsuit, as it is an ongoing litigation. The department follows a policy of not discussing active legal matters.
As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on the allegations of excessive force and the violation of constitutional rights. The incident has raised questions about police conduct during traffic stops and the use of force by law enforcement officers.
