A federal jury awarded one man $76,000. mechanic mistakenly arrested by Huntsville police officers His lawyer issued a statement Friday after he refused to show identification while fixing a customer’s car in a church parking lot five years ago.

Roland Edger was awarded $75,000 for pain and suffering and $1,000 for pain and suffering on Wednesday following his 2019 arrest by Huntsville Police Officers Krista McCabe and Cameron Perillat, according to civil rights attorney Hank Sherrod, who represented the mechanic.

U.S. District Court Judge Liles Burke ruled that McCabe and Perillat wrongly arrested Edger and that a Huntsville federal jury will decide the damages to be paid to the mechanic. It also found the City of Huntsville liable because it was the officers’ employer.

“Roland is very happy to close this chapter in his life,” Sherrod said. “Roland never thought it would take 5 years for justice to be served, but he is happy with the judge’s decision and the jury’s decision. Delay of justice is better than no justice. “Roland hopes this decision will lead to better practices by police officers.”

Huntsville police said in a statement: ON THE GO He said the department “respects the court’s decision and will include additional training to ensure our practices comply with the court order.”

In June 2019, a customer called Edger and told him his wife’s red Toyota Camry had broken down at the church where he worked in Huntsville, according to federal court records.

Edger arrived a day or two later, retrieved the car keys from the church front office, inspected the car, concluded that the problem might have been the steering or the tire, and left.

He returned with his stepson later that evening, and the church’s security guard called 911 to report that “two Hispanic males were fiddling with an employee’s car that was left in the parking lot,” according to federal court records.

Officer McCabe arrived about 30 minutes later, according to court records.

A. 40 minute video Details of the encounter and arrest, released by the federal appeals court, began when Officer McCabe approached Edger as he lifted a red Toyota Camry in the parking lot of the Progressive Union Missionary Baptist Church on the evening of June 10, 2019. his stepson was standing nearby.

McCabe began questioning Edger. Edger told McCabe that he was fixing a car for his client. McCabe then pointed to a black hatchback parked nearby and asked whose car it was. Edger said it was his.

This was followed by 30 seconds of silence as the officer watched Edger work on the car, the video showed.

“Okay. Take a quick break for me and do you have your driver’s license or ID?” After silence, McCabe asked the following question in the video: The judges stated that at this time, a second police officer, Perillat, arrived in the parking lot.

“I will not show any identification. Listen, call the lady right away. Listen, I don’t have time for this. I don’t mean to be rude or ugly, but… . .,” Edger said as he stood up from working on the car.

“Okay, love. No, you need to give me your ID or driver’s license,” Officer McCabe said in the video as Officer Perillat approached Edger from behind.

The body camera shows Edger running both hands through his hair in frustration and saying: “Listen, I don’t want you running after me for no reason.”

In the footage, McCabe asks, “Are you refusing to give me your ID or driver’s license?” he asked.

Edger began saying, “I’m telling you, call this lady on the phone…” before Officer Perillat is seen in the footage grabbing him from behind and pushing him into the car.

While Perrillat handcuffed him, Edger said twice that he would show them his ID.

In the footage, McCabe said, “You are under arrest.”

“Why?” Edger asked.

“Because of obstruction,” McCabe replied.

Edger, whose footage showed McCabe holding him on the ground in the vehicle, said, “I didn’t do anything.”

“So if you resist any further, you will also be charged with resisting arrest. Do you understand?” McCabe said in the footage.

“Listen, I’ll give you my ID, I’ll tell you what’s going on, this is ridiculous, I’m trying to buy a customer’s car here. I’m in a hurry. “My shop is unlocked now,” Edger said.

Eventually, Perillat found the ID after searching Edger’s wallet. In the video, McCabe explains to Edger’s stepson that Edger will go to prison for obstructing the investigation by refusing to identify him.

According to Sherrod, there were two problems with the arrest. First, officers are required to have reasonable suspicion before detaining a person, and McCabe did not see any crime that would justify seizing Edger. Second, under Alabama law, even if the seizure was legal, McCabe could not legally request an identification card during a traffic stop.

A panel of federal appeals court judges ruled that Alabama Stop and Identify statute It allows the officer to stop a public figure and “demand their name, address, and explanation of their actions” only if there is reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed.

The City of Huntsville charged Edger with “obstructing government operations” for refusing to provide identification, but later dropped the charge. Edger filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging false arrest that violated his civil rights. A federal judge in Huntsville granted the officer qualified immunity and dismissed the case.

On appeal, federal appellate judges rejected his argument that officers had probable cause to arrest Edger for refusing to produce physical identification and sent the case back to Burke’s courtroom.

Updated at 6:08 p.m. to include comment from the Huntsville Police Department.