A man is filing a lawsuit against three Metro Transit Police officers who he says wrongfully arrested him and used a stun gun on him this summer. News4’s Shomari Stone reports.
A man has filed a lawsuit against three Metro Transit Police officers after he was arrested and repeatedly hit with a stun gun this summer.
Video circulated on social media of the June 22 arrest at the U Street Metro station.
The video appears to show two MTPD officers asking questions of two juveniles on a Metro platform, while Musonza asks questions of the officers. Then, a third MTPD officer engages Musonza, pushes him back and repeatedly uses a stun gun after Musonza raises his hands.
"It’s a very traumatic experience for me," Musonza told News4 on Monday.
Musonza said he was waiting for a train at the station that evening when he saw an officer arresting a teen. Musonza said the officer had the teen's face down on the ground. He asked the officer if the suspect was a minor and if the officer could take the teen out of that position on the ground.
"I did not interfere. I was worried about the child's welfare," Musonza said.
According to Musonza, other officers walked up who didn't know what was happening and the situation quickly escalated.
The officers used a stun gun on Musonza's groin, back, buttocks, knees, inner thighs and legs and threw him to the ground, his attorneys say.
MTPD has opened an internal investigation into an arrest at U Street Station yesterday evening that involved an officer using force. We take use-of-force matters seriously, and we are committed to fostering the public trust in us. Below is our full statement. #wmata pic.twitter.com/O3bgtcpmhw
— Metro Transit Police (@MetroTransitPD) June 23, 2019
The violent and dangerous escalation here by @wmata Transit Police is terrifying. It put lives unnecessarily in danger and it breeds anger and distrust that move us further away from public safety. I have contacted the Chief of WMATA Transit Police.
— Robert C. White, Jr. (@RobertWhite_DC) June 23, 2019
The lawsuit claims the officers used excessive force, failed to read Musonza his Miranda rights during the arrest and didn't allow him a phone call during his time in jail.
Metro Transit Police charged Musonza with assault on a police officer, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest, but the charges were later dropped.
Its Black Joy Sunday & we still demanding @councilofdc have @wmata & @DCPoliceDept stop criminalizing & brutally beating Black children & people @charlesallen @CM_McDuffie @RobertWhite_DC @trayonwhite the kids were innocent yet handcuffed & made to look like a criminal @ACLU_DC pic.twitter.com/nogAGNITvF
— BlackLivesMatter DC (@DMVBlackLives) June 23, 2019
"It was a sign of relief and confirmation because I didn't do anything wrong," Musonza said.
Musonza's lawyers say the arrest remains on his record.
The lawsuit also claims Musonza has suffered chronic pain, liver damage, insomnia, post concussive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder due to the incident and he has to take several medications, including anti-depressants.
