Dierra Fields, the woman who an Akron police officer body-slammed during a family argument in January 2024, has sued the city of Akron in federal court.
The suit, filed by Fields’ attorney Imokhai Okolo on Friday, also lists Akron police officer Thomas Shoemaker, Sgt. Timothy Shmigal and Chief Brian Harding as defendants.
The suit lists allegations for six claims: excessive force, supervisory municipal liability, assault and battery, malicious prosecution and negligence.
City of Akron spokeswoman Stephanie Marsh declined to comment.
The Beacon Journal reached out to Okolo for comment on Saturday but has not yet received a response.
The suit alleged that Shoemaker assaulted Fields when he body-slammed her on Jan. 11, 2024, and wrongfully arrested her. It further stated that Shoemaker “used gratuitious force” and that “Ms. Fields was NOT actively resisting arrest and posed NO threat to Defendants or others.”
Then, the suit alleged, Shoemaker wrongfully pursued Fields’ criminal prosecution.
In June, a jury found Fields not guilty of obstructing official business and resisting arrest. Okolo also represented Fields in that case.
The lawsuit also alleged that Shmigal had a “duty to intercede” but did not when he watched Shoemaker body-slam Fields and violate her constitutional rights.
Akron’s independent police auditor, Anthony Finnell, said in April that Shoemaker used unjustified force and should be disciplined. Harding rejected those findings in October.
The lawsuit said that as Shoemaker’s direct supervisors, Shmigal and Harding were aware of Shoemaker’s misconduct but “took no action, failed to impose reasonable discipline, failed to follow chain of command, failed to document the instances of misconduct, and/or otherwise abandoned his supervisory duties.”
The Friday suit mentioned a separate federal lawsuit against Shoemaker that was settled in favor of the plaintiff. That plaintiff was a protester in Akron police’s killing of Jayland Walker; Shoemaker punched the protester in the face twice while the protester was restrained by other officers.
The recently filed suit listed separate incidents that it stated exemplify how the city of Akron “is aware that its officers engage in violent behavior that involves excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment which disproportionately involves African Americans.”
Because of conduct by Shoemaker, the Friday suit alleged, Fields suffered injuries and damages “including, but not limited to, physical injury, adverse consequences for attending court proceedings, emotional trauma and distress, loss of reputation, loss of liberty, and other damages set forth in this Complaint.”
Fields seeks money damages and a jury trial, the suit said.
Patrick Williams covers growth and development for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached by email at pwilliams@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @pwilliamsOH.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Woman who Akron police body-slammed last January sues city, officers