A Detroit mother has filed a federal lawsuit against the police department, alleging she was wrongfully arrested due to faulty facial recognition technology. LaDonna Crutchfield, 37, was taken from her home in handcuffs on January 23, 2024, after being accused of attempted murder.
According to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court, Crutchfield was identified as a suspect through "an unknown facial recognition database." However, Detroit Police Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald denies the use of facial recognition technology in this case, stating it "was never run."
Police claim they initially connected Crutchfield to the investigation through a partial license plate that led to a house where her relative allegedly lived - a claim disputed by Crutchfield's attorney, Ivan Land. The lawsuit states that basic questions could have immediately cleared Crutchfield, noting she is 5 inches shorter and several years younger than the actual suspect.
During custody, Crutchfield reports that when shown photos of the suspect, a detective insisted on their similarity. She responded by asking if it was "Because I am fat and Black like her?" She was only released after providing fingerprints and a DNA sample.
The incident has left lasting emotional trauma, with Crutchfield stating she cannot forget being handcuffed in front of her children and neighbors. She was forced to obtain a police letter confirming she wasn't a felony suspect to protect her job working with disabled adults.
This case follows a similar incident in 2023 when Detroit police wrongfully arrested an eight-months pregnant woman in connection with a carjacking. Both cases raise concerns about the reliability of identification methods used by law enforcement, particularly regarding people of color.
While the lawsuit doesn't specify damages sought, it emphasizes the severe emotional distress caused by the public nature of the arrest and its impact on Crutchfield's family and professional life.