A Wisconsin attorney has been awarded $760,000 after claiming her rights were violated during a police incident at her home. The case revolves around Stephanie Rapkin, who was filmed spitting at a Black Lives Matter protest leader during a rally in Shorewood back in June 2020. Following this incident, she served 60 days in jail.
The trouble didn’t end there. After the altercation, protesters came to her residence to confront her, which escalated the situation. One of the protesters called the police, leading to a series of events where officers saw fit to break into her home armed and without a warrant, citing a need for a “welfare check.”
According to her lawsuit, police had spent considerable time discussing how to arrest her and ultimately entered her home under the guise of checking on her well-being, since a neighbor had mentioned she might be taking sleeping medication. This led to a dramatic entrance, with officers using their guns and tasers as they forced their way in, while Rapkin questioned whether they had a warrant.
During the arrest, Rapkin insisted she was fine and simply wanted to go back to sleep. The situation escalated, resulting in her arrest amidst jeers from protesters outside. Although she faced felony assault charges for allegedly kicking an officer, those charges were later dropped.
Rapkin filed a complaint against the Sherwood Police Department, claiming her Fourth Amendment rights were infringed upon. A judge supported her argument, emphasizing that the officers could have easily avoided the situation by obtaining a warrant or waiting for her attorney to mediate the situation.
Her attorney pointed out that the police had clear options that could have prevented the conflict. This case brings to light issues regarding police conduct and the importance of respecting individuals’ rights, even during tense confrontations.
