A Detroit woman is suing the city and a police officer, claiming she was shot six times during a routine traffic stop last October, in a case that has drawn sharp attention to police conduct and civil rights protections.
Tracey Allen, represented by attorney Maurice Davis, filed the civil complaint Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She is seeking $25 million in damages and legal costs.
Allegations of Excessive Force
“Miss Tracey Allen was shot six times by a Detroit police officer during an encounter where she posed no physical threat,” Davis said during a news conference at his Detroit office. “There was no justification for using force.”
Allen, speaking alongside Davis, described the lasting impact of the shooting. “I’d be lying if I said I was okay,” she said. “Mentally, I’m not. Physically, I’m not.”
The complaint names Detroit Police Officer Zachary Melvin and the city of Detroit as defendants. It alleges violations of the Fourth Amendment, prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure, and the Fourteenth Amendment, ensuring equal protection under the law. It also claims Melvin was grossly negligent and committed assault and battery.
