This Morning PHAR and the NAACP announced the filing of a lawsuit to gain access to police records pertaining to stop and frisk in Charlottesville. STAY TUNED for MORE DETAILS!
PRESS RELEASE
There will be a press conference in front of the Charlottesville Circuit Court on Thursday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m. to announce the filing of a lawsuit by the Public Housing Association of Residents and the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch of the NAACP to overturn the refusal of the Charlottesville Police Department to provide information about its stop and frisk practices.
The CPD started keeping records of stops and frisks at the urging of the community in early 2013. In May 2014, Chief Longo, in his annual report to the City Council, revealed that 70% of the stops and frisks were of African-Americans. A very small percentage of those stops revealed criminal activity. In June 2014, and again in February 2015, PHAR and the NAACP sought records, including the narratives prepared by officers of the street level detentions and associated searches. Efforts by PHAR and the NAACP have fallen on deaf ears as the police chief and the city manager have refused to reconsider its original denial.
Dr. Rick Turner, President of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP and a representative of PHAR will speak of the importance of this issue and the need for the requested information. Copies of the complaint will be available at that time.
