Detroit Raid: Plate Error, Toddler Held; ACLU Cites Cases

Detroit police misconduct impacts Black lives.

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Wrongful Raid Exposes Detroit Police Misconduct

Imagine waking up to armed officers raiding your home, identified only as the “gang squad.” This nightmare became reality for Isoke Robinson in Detroit in 2023. Police stormed her residence based on a license plate reader error, mistaking her white Dodge Charger for a vehicle involved in a shooting (Atlanta Black Star). They had no matching license plate information and found no gunpowder residue to link her car to the crime.

The officers conducted the search without a warrant, escalating the trauma. Robinson’s autistic 2-year-old child was detained in a patrol car during the ordeal, crying uncontrollably (Atlanta Black Star). Furthermore, the lack of proper identification and the aggressive tactics highlight serious protocol violations, adding another layer to the distress experienced by this innocent family.

Unlawful Seizure Impacts Black Women Livelihoods

Following the terrifying raid, Isoke Robinson faced further hardship due to the police actions. She filed a lawsuit against the city, citing the unlawful seizure of her property (Atlanta Black Star). Confiscated items included her vehicle, her driver’s license, and her legally owned firearm. This left her unable to commute to work, putting her job at serious risk.

The Detroit police compounded the injustice by holding onto her Dodge Charger for three weeks. Shockingly, they never tested the car for gunpowder residue nor verified if its details matched witness descriptions from the actual shooting (Atlanta Black Star). Her vehicle was only returned after her attorney intervened. Subsequently, the city settled the case for $35,000, acknowledging constitutional violations but stopping short of admitting formal liability.

Facial Recognition Racism: A Systemic Problem

Isoke Robinson’s experience isn’t an isolated incident. It highlights a disturbing pattern of wrongful arrests targeting Black residents in Detroit, often fueled by flawed surveillance technology. Other Black women, like LaDonna Crutchfield in a 2014 case and Porcha Woodruff in 2023, were also falsely arrested (Atlanta Black Star). These arrests stemmed from misidentifications by facial recognition software or license plate mismatches, technology known to have significant racial biases.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has shed light on these disparities. A 2018 study revealed that facial recognition technology misidentifies Black women at an alarming rate of 35 percent (Atlanta Black Star). This stands in stark contrast to the minimal errors observed for white men. Consequently, these technological flaws translate into real-world consequences, disproportionately impacting Black communities and eroding trust in law enforcement.

Pattern of Police Surveillance Discrimination

The problems within the Detroit Police Department extend beyond faulty technology. There’s a documented history of racially biased conduct and questionable investigation practices. For instance, in 2019, Detroit police officer Gary Steele faced investigation after posting a deeply offensive Snapchat video (ABC News). The video mocked a Black woman forced to walk home after her car was towed, disturbingly using a “Black History Month” filter and derogatory captions.

This type of behavior reflects deeper cultural issues within the department. In Isoke Robinson’s case, the officers involved identified themselves only as the “gang squad,” operating with anonymity (Atlanta Black Star). Such actions violate standard protocols aimed at transparency and de-escalation during police encounters. Ultimately, these incidents collectively paint a picture of a department struggling with accountability and racial sensitivity, demanding urgent reform.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College, where he has been teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.