Lawsuit Filed by Antonio Williamson

Case: 5:21-cv-00565-JRA Doc #: 1 Filed: 03/10/21 1 of 48.
PageID #: 1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
EASTERN DIVISION
ANTONIO WILLIAMSON ) CASE NO. 5:21-cv-565

c/o Spangenberg Shibley & Liber LLP )
1001 Lakeside Ave. East, Suite 1700 ) JUDGE
Cleveland, OH 44114 )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
vs. )
)
SHERIFF KANDY FATHEREE, in her ) COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES
official capacity as Summit County )
Sheriff, ) [Jury Demand Endorsed Hereon]
Summit County Sheriff’s Office )
53 University Ave. )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
)
CITY OF AKRON )
Akron Police Department )
217 S High Street )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
)
DET. JEROME PATRICK MCMILLAN )
217 S High Street )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
)
LT. GERALD E. FORNEY )
217 S High Street )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
Case: 5:21-cv-00565-JRA Doc #: 1 Filed: 03/10/21 2 of 48. PageID #: 2
DET. JASON KLINE )

Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
)
FMR. SHERIFF STEVE BARRY )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
and )
)
INS. CHRIS RHOADES, SR. )
Akron, OH 44308 )
)
Defendants. )
Now comes Plaintiff, Antonio Williamson, and for his Complaint against the above-
named Defendants, states and avers as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff Antonio Williamson is a former Lieutenant with the Summit County
Sheriff’s Office who was maliciously and selectively prosecuted for serious crimes he did
not commit and fired from his job. Mr. Williamson worked in Internal Affairs, tasked with
investigating the alleged wrongdoing of his fellow deputies, and was one of only a handful
of African Americans in the entire Sheriff’s Office holding a supervisory role at the time.
Mr. Williamson never had a single citizen complaint against him substantiated during his
career as a law enforcement officer.
2. In March of 2017, a woman complained to the Akron Police Department that
an unnamed, African American Summit County Sheriff’s deputy forced her to give him
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oral sex. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office immediately offered Mr. Williamson as the
only suspect, despite the fact that he did not match the woman’s description – aside from
being black.
3. When DNA and physical evidence excluded Mr. Williamson as a suspect,
City of Akron investigating officers persisted. Akron investigators made false and
misleading statements and omitted critical evidence and information in police reports and
affidavits in order to initiate and further a criminal prosecution against Mr. Williamson, all
without probable cause and in violation of the United States Constitution.
4. As a result of these false statements and material omissions, Mr. Williamson
was indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition.
Mr. Williamson steadfastly maintained his innocence.
5. While the rape, kidnapping, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition
charges were pending against Mr. Williamson, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office
(sometimes hereinafter, “SCSO”), under former Sheriff Steve Barry, undertook an
investigation against Mr. Williamson for alleged improper use of the Ohio Law
Enforcement Gateway (“OHLEG”) for searching his own name in the OHLEG database –
a widespread and longstanding practice at SCSO at the time. Sheriff Barry referred Mr.
Williamson for criminal prosecution of these alleged violations. Mr. Williamson’s uses of
OHLEG were lawful and approved by supervisors, and otherwise common practice
amongst SCSO deputies. Regardless, however, no other SCSO Deputy had ever been
referred for criminal prosecution for established misuse of OHLEG, much less for
engaging in the common practice of searching one’s own name in the database.
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6. On January 2, 2018, a supplemental indictment was issued charging
Mr. Williamson with 10 additional counts for criminal OHLEG misuse.
7. On or about April 19, 2018, the Summit County Sheriff terminated
Mr. Williamson’s employment for his alleged improper uses of OHLEG.
8. On July 7, 2018, the Summit County Common Pleas court severed the
sexual assault-related charges from the OHLEG misuse-related charges for purposes of
trial.
9. Shortly before trial on the sexual assault-related charges, Summit County
prosecutors dismissed the rape and kidnapping counts. Then, on March 10, 2020, after
a ten-day jury trial, Mr. Williamson was acquitted on all remaining charges stemming from
the sexual assault incident alleged against him in March 2017. The OHLEG misuse-
related charges and prosecution remained pending against Mr. Williamson.
10. On February 24, 2021, Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Mary
Margaret Rowlands dismissed the OHLEG-related charges against Mr. Williamson on the
grounds of unconstitutional selective prosecution based on race. Specifically, after
conducting an evidentiary hearing, the court held, among other things, that the “Summit
County Sheriff’s deliberate choice not to exercise any discretion in [Mr. Williamson’s]
selection for prosecution for the same violations committed by white SCSO deputies, who
were not referred for prosecution, is invidious conduct based upon [Mr. Williamson’s]
race” in violation of his Fourteenth Amendment rights to be free from selective prosecution
on the basis of race.
11. Similarly, the Summit County Sheriff’s termination of Mr. Williamson’s
stellar, nineteen-year employment with the SCSO, for engaging in a practice for which no
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white deputies, including the investigating officer himself, were fired, was discriminatory
and unlawful.
12. Through this lawsuit, Mr. Williamson now seeks relief for violations of his
rights secured and guaranteed by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United
States Constitution, the laws of the United States, and the laws of the State of Ohio. Mr.
Williamson pursues the claims set forth herein below under Title 42, § 1983 of the United
States Code and Ohio common and statutory law.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
13. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331,
as certain claims asserted herein arise under the Constitution and laws of the United
States, to wit, the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution
and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
14. Pendant jurisdiction over the state law claims asserted herein is invoked
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.
15. Venue in this judicial district is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1)
and (b)(2).
PARTIES
16. Plaintiff Antonio Williamson is a former Lieutenant with the Summit County
Sheriff’s Office, residing in the Northern District of Ohio. Plaintiff is a citizen of the United
States and is entitled to the protections of the Constitution and laws of the United States
of America and the State of Ohio. Plaintiff’s employment with the Summit County Sheriff’s
Office was wrongfully terminated on or about April 19, 2018.
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17. At all times relevant, Defendant Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree or
her predecessor, former Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry, was the lawful Sheriff of
Summit County, Ohio and, through the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and its employees
and agents, was the Sheriff of a duly authorized law enforcement agency, with the ability
to sue and be sued, residing in Summit County in the Northern District of Ohio. Defendant
Sheriff Fatheree is sued in her official capacity and all references to Defendant Sheriff
Fatheree herein include reference to former Summit County Sheriff Steve Barry in his
official capacity. Defendant Sheriff Fatheree is white.
18. Defendant Sheriff Fatheree is a “person” as defined under 42 U.S.C. §
1983.
19. At all times relevant, Defendant Sheriff Fatheree was responsible for the
administration, operation, training, and supervision of the Summit County Sheriff’s Office
and its employees, and for the promulgation, enforcement, and review of rules,
regulations, policies, customs, and practices relevant thereto, and was acting under color
of law in her official capacity.
20. At all times relevant, Defendant City of Akron was and is a political
subdivision and unit of local government duly organized under the laws of the State of
Ohio residing in the Northern District of Ohio acting under the color of law.
21. Defendant City of Akron is a “person” as defined under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
22. Defendant City of Akron is responsible for the administration, operation,
training, and supervision of law enforcement officers and for the promulgation,
enforcement and review of rules, regulations, policies, customs, and practices relevant
thereto.
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23. At all times relevant, Defendants Jerome Patrick McMillan and Gerald E.
Forney were and are law enforcement officers employed by the City of Akron acting under
the color of law and within the course and scope of their employment residing in the
Northern District of Ohio. Defendants McMillan and Forney are white.
24. At all times relevant, Defendant Jason Kline is and was a law enforcement
officer employed by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office acting under the color of law and
within the course and scope of his employment residing in the Northern District of Ohio.
Defendant Kline is white.
25. At all times relevant, and until January 3, 2021, Defendant Steve Barry was
the lawful Sheriff of Summit County, acting under the color of law and within the course
and scope of his position as Sheriff. Defendant Barry is white.
26. At all times relevant, Defendant Chris Rhoades, Senior is and was a law
enforcement officer employed by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office acting under the
color of law and within the course and scope of his employment residing in the Northern
District of Ohio. Defendant Rhoades was Plaintiff’s direct supervisor at the time of
Plaintiff’s termination from SCSO. Defendant Rhoades is white.
27. At all times relevant, Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline, Barry, and
Rhoades were and are “persons” as defined under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and/or R.C. §
4112.01(A)(1) and are being sued herein in their individual capacities.
GENERAL FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
BACKGROUND
28. Plaintiff Antonio Williamson was hired by the Summit County Sheriff’s
Office as a Deputy Sheriff on or about February 16, 1999.
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29. Plaintiff consistently performed well at his job and repeatedly exceeded
expectations on performance evaluations.
30. On or about August 31, 2007, Plaintiff was promoted to the rank of
Sergeant.
31. In 2009, Plaintiff was forced to file a complaint with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) against his supervisor, who was repeatedly denying
Plaintiff’s training requests for no stated reason, while approving identical requests made
by white deputies.
32. In 2010, Defendant Kline was captured on video using excessive and
unreasonable force against a detainee in the Summit County Jail, throwing the detainee
against a wall and beating him. Defendant Kline received a “write-up,” or reprimand, for
this conduct. Plaintiff was the supervisor tasked with personally serving Defendant Kline
with this disciplinary write-up at Defendant Kline’s home.
33. In 2014, there were only four African American deputies in supervisory roles
in the entire SCSO – one Lieutenant and three Sergeants. There were no African
American deputies in coveted, full-time specialty assignments, such as narcotics,
community services, or internal affairs. Plaintiff was the only African American deputy
assigned to patrol. Most African American deputies were assigned to work in the County’s
jail facilities.
34. In 2014, Plaintiff initiated a meeting with the three other African American
SCSO supervisors to discuss ways to encourage the department to hire and promote
more African Americans and other minorities, so that SCSO would be more
representative of the people of Summit County.
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35. Plaintiff then enlisted the involvement of an attorney to inquire about the
racial composition of SCSO. The inquiry revealed that the Sheriff’s Office was almost all
white, with very few African Americans in supervisory roles or specialty assignments.
36. Shortly after that inquiry, on December 5, 2014, Plaintiff was selected for
promotion to Lieutenant, at least in part because of his race as an African American.
37. The Lieutenant promotions, scheduled for December 16, 2014, included
Plaintiff, a white male deputy, and a white female deputy. Out of the three deputies
scheduled for promotion that day, Plaintiff had served with SCSO the longest, and would
therefore have had seniority over his two fellow white deputies in terms of internal rank
and scheduling assignments/opportunities once they were Lieutenants.
38. The scheduled promotions were then rescinded on the basis of Plaintiff’s
race, so that Plaintiff would not gain seniority over the white male deputy.
39. The three promotions were reissued on or about January 12, 2015, but they
were no longer scheduled to occur on the same day.
40. Rather, the white male deputy was promoted one day prior to Plaintiff, so
that he would obtain seniority over Plaintiff once they both achieved the same rank,
despite the white deputy having worked for SCSO for a shorter period of time than had
Plaintiff.
41. On or about January 21, 2015, Plaintiff was promoted to the rank of
Lieutenant.
42. In 2016, the Akron NAACP pressured Defendant Barry to employ more
African Americans on the SCSO’s fourth-floor command group. The NAACP complained
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about the disproportionate lack of African Americans in leadership roles at SCSO
compared to the community’s composition of African Americans.
43. As a result of this pressure, and in part because Plaintiff was African
American, Plaintiff was selected for assignment in Internal Affairs by Defendant Barry in
November of 2016.
44. Plaintiff’s direct supervisor in Internal Affairs, Defendant Rhoades, told
Plaintiff that he did not want Plaintiff in Internal Affairs and would not have selected
Plaintiff for assignment in Internal Affairs but for Defendant Barry’s insistence.
45. Defendant Rhoades did not like Plaintiff, and made disparaging comments
about African Americans in front of Plaintiff. For example, Defendant Rhoades made it a
point to tell Plaintiff that the first African Americans Defendant Rhoades had ever spoken
to were inmates in the Summit County Jail.
46. As Judge Rowlands found in her February 24, 2021 Order dismissing the
OHLEG misuse-related criminal charges against Plaintiff on the basis of unconstitutional
selective prosecution, “Race was admittedly a factor in [Plaintiff’s] promotion.”
The Night of March 18, 2017
47. At the start of 2017, Plaintiff was working in Internal Affairs investigating
allegations of misconduct against other deputies in SCSO, having entered that position
in or about November 2016.
48. On the night of March 18, 2017, Plaintiff was 46 years old, and had been
with SCSO for eighteen years. Plaintiff had never had a single citizen complaint
substantiated against him.
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49. While working Internal Affairs, Plaintiff was assigned an unmarked detective
bureau vehicle – a light blue Chevy Malibu.
50. The Malibu was a “take-home” vehicle that Plaintiff drove home each night
after work. Plaintiff was also permitted to use the Malibu while working secondary
employment jobs approved by SCSO.
51. This unmarked Chevy Malibu did not have red and blue overhead lights; it
did not have “Sheriff” emblazoned on the side; it did not contain an onboard computer
system, keyboard, or mobile data terminal (“MDT”); its rear doors opened from the inside
like any other sedan; and it had soft back seats, not hard plastic seats like a marked
SCSO cruiser.
52. On the evening of March 18, 2017, Plaintiff was working approved
secondary employment providing security at the Woods apartment complex on Romig
Road in southwest Akron.
53. That night, Plaintiff drove his unmarked blue Chevy Malibu to his secondary
employment detail at the Woods apartment complex. As was requested by the Woods
apartment owners, and having been previously approved, Mr. Williamson was wearing
his Sheriff’s uniform, but was not wearing a hat. He was clean-shaven, and has never
worn facial hair.
54. From sometime after 10 p.m. on March 18, 2017, until a little after 2:30 a.m.
on March 19, 2017, Plaintiff sat in his unmarked car in the Woods complex parking lot
watching the property.
55. At around 11:45 p.m. on March 18, 2017, Plaintiff’s fiancée visited him at
the Woods complex and brought him a spaghetti dinner with garlic bread. She parked
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next to Plaintiff in his unmarked Chevy Malibu and handed him the food. They talked for
some time, and then she left. She later testified to this in a sworn affidavit.
56. At approximately 2:30 a.m. on March 19, 2017, a 26-year-old woman
named Moriah Asefi walked by the Woods apartments yelling loudly at someone on her
phone.
57. From inside his unmarked car, Plaintiff made contact with Asefi and asked
her to be more quiet, as people in the nearby apartments were sleeping.
58. Plaintiff asked Asefi if she was all right. Asefi said she was from out of town
and was looking for a place to stay. She asked Plaintiff if there were any hotels around.
59. Plaintiff searched his phone for nearby hotels, and at 2:33 a.m., called one
for Asefi to check the rates and vacancy. Asefi thanked him, and walked away.
60. Plaintiff remained in his vehicle during the entire interaction with Asefi.
61. At no point did Asefi enter Plaintiff’s vehicle.
Asefi’s Allegations
62. On March 19 and 20, 2020, Asefi reported to Akron Police that she had
been forced to give a black male Summit County Sheriff’s Deputy oral sex in the early
morning hours of March 19th in the front seat of a marked SCSO cruiser.
63. Asefi reported her claims to Akron City Police, and ultimately to Defendants
McMillan and Forney, who recorded interviews with Asefi and who were responsible for
investigating her allegations.
64. Defendants McMillan and Forney obtained cell phone call records, text
message records, and cell tower data for Asefi’s cell phone.
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65. Asefi described her alleged assailant to Defendants McMillan and Forney
as follows:
a) Five feet, five inches tall;
b) Between 30 and 37 years old;
c) “Really, really light” colored eyes, possibly “green,” as she told her
mother;
d) Facial hair;
e) Deep voice;
f) Wearing a hat the entire time;
g) Driving a marked, black and yellow Sheriff’s cruiser, equipped with
overhead emergency lights and an onboard computer and keyboard.
66. By March 20, 2017, a day after the alleged rape, in response to their inquiry
about the SCSO deputy described by Asefi, Defendant Kline offered up Plaintiff by name
and suggested to Defendants McMillan and Forney that Plaintiff should be suspected,
despite the fact that Plaintiff did not match Asefi’s description, aside from being black.
67. Defendants McMillan and Forney then obtained cell phone call records and
cell tower data for Plaintiff’s cell phone.
68. Asefi sent and received many text messages throughout the time at issue
on the morning of March 19, 2017.
69. Asefi told law enforcement, including Defendants McMillan and Forney, that
her alleged assailant gave her a ride in the back of his marked, black and yellow Summit
County Sheriff’s cruiser, equipped with emergency lights, a computer terminal, and
emblazoned with “Sheriff” on the side.
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70. Asefi claimed that at one point, she told her alleged assailant she had to
vomit, and so she claimed he pulled the cruiser over.
71. According to Asefi, the alleged assailant had to exit the vehicle to open the
rear door for her, as the rear door on the Sheriff’s cruiser did not open from the inside.
72. Asefi claimed she leaned out of the cruiser and vomited for several minutes.
She said she believed that she got some vomit in and on the cruiser.
73. Asefi then claimed that her assailant pulled her out of the marked cruiser,
searched her, groped her breasts, and put her in the front seat of the cruiser. She said
her assailant then got into the driver’s seat.
74. At that point, Asefi alleged the assailant pushed her head into his lap and
forced her to perform oral sex while the cruiser was still parked.
75. Asefi disclosed to Defendants McMillan and Forney that she works as a
prostitute/escort, and is she is admittedly familiar with male anatomy and the appearance
of a circumcised as compared to an uncircumcised penis.
76. Asefi told Defendants McMillan and Forney her assailant “was not
circumcised.” She said this twice during an interview recorded by Defendants McMillan
and/or Forney.
77. Asefi was very specific in her allegation that her assailant repeatedly told
her not to touch the cruiser’s onboard computer while she was leaning over to perform
oral sex on him from the passenger seat. She claimed the keyboard lit up green.
78. Asefi claimed her assailant ejaculated inside the cruiser.
79. She claimed that she had her assailant’s DNA on her body and in her mouth.
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80. Asefi claimed her assailant drove her to the IHop restaurant on Arlington
Road in Akron, where he dropped her off.
81. Asefi claimed her assailant said he was from Canton and that he was
heading back there that night.
82. Asefi presented to the hospital, after sleeping at a hotel, the next morning
after the alleged assault. A rape kit was performed, and DNA swabs were taken of Asefi’s
mouth, breasts, and other areas.
The Evidence Excluded Plaintiff As A Suspect and There Was No Probable Cause
to Suspect Plaintiff
83. The evidence gathered by Defendants McMillan and Forney excluded
Plaintiff as a suspect for the crimes alleged by Asefi. The evidence did not support a
probable cause finding to initiate, pursue, or cause to be pursued, any criminal charges
against Mr. Williamson for Asefi’s alleged sexual assault. It was objectively unreasonable
to believe probable cause existed to arrest Plaintiff in relation to Asefi’s allegations, or
that Mr. Williamson was or could be guilty of or otherwise lawfully charged with the crimes
alleged by Asefi.
84. The identifiable male DNA sample obtained from Ms. Asefi’s body
conclusively excluded Plaintiff as the donor. None of Mr. Williamson’s DNA was found
anywhere on or in Asefi’s body.
85. Plaintiff did not match the description provided to Defendants McMillan and
Forney by Asefi:
a) At five feet, nine inches Plaintiff is significantly taller than Asefi’s
alleged assailant (5’ 5”);
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b) Plaintiff was 46 years of age, not in his early-to-mid thirties as was
the alleged assailant described by Asefi;
c) Plaintiff has dark brown eyes, not “really, really light” colored eyes or
“green” eyes as was the alleged assailant described by Asefi;
d) Contrary to Asefi’s description of the alleged assailant, Plaintiff is
clean-shaven and does not have facial hair;
e) Unlike the alleged assailant described by Asefi, Plaintiff does not
have a deep voice;
f) Unlike the alleged assailant described by Asefi, Plaintiff does not
have “very rough” hands, as Defendants McMillan and Forney knew
upon shaking Plaintiff’s hand during their initial interview;
g) Asefi claimed her assailant wore his hat the entire time. Plaintiff was
not wearing his hat inside his vehicle;
h) Asefi gave detailed descriptions of the inside and outside of the
marked cruiser she was in when she was allegedly assaulted.
Plaintiff was not driving a marked cruiser on the night in question;
and
i) Asefi confirmed – twice – that her assailant was not circumcised.
Plaintiff, however, is circumcised, a fact about which Defendants
McMillan and Forney were aware at the time of their initial interview
with Plaintiff, during which they made Mr. Williamson expose his
genitals to them for photographing.
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86. During an April 12, 2017 interview with Plaintiff, Defendants McMillan and
Forney forced Plaintiff to expose his genitalia and be photographed. Defendants McMillan
and Forney were able to quickly confirm that, contrary to Asefi’s allegations, Plaintiff is
unquestionably circumcised.
87. Plaintiff’s unmarked Chevy Malibu is not mistakeable for the marked
Sheriff’s cruiser inside of which Asefi alleged she was assaulted:
a) Plaintiff’s vehicle was light blue, not black and yellow;
b) Plaintiff’s vehicle did not have “Sheriff” emblazoned on the sides, or
anywhere;
c) Plaintiff’s vehicle did not have red and blue overhead emergency
lights;
d) Plaintiff’s vehicle did not have an onboard computer, MDT or
keyboard;
e) The rear doors of Plaintiff’s vehicle open from the inside, contrary to
Asefi’s description of the cruiser in which she was assaulted whereby
her alleged assailant had to open the rear door for her so she could
vomit; and
f) The rear seats of Plaintiff’s vehicle are soft cloth, not hard plastic like
in a marked Sheriff’s cruiser and as described to Defendants
McMillan and Forney by Asefi.
88. MDT keyboards used by in SCSO cruisers light up red, not green, as Asefi
claimed to Defendants McMillan and Forney.
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89. Plaintiff’s fiancée at the time confirmed under oath that she saw Plaintiff at
the Woods apartment complex on Romig Road in his unmarked, blue Chevy Malibu on
the night Asefi claimed to Defendants McMillan and Forney that she was assaulted in a
marked SCSO cruiser. Plaintiff’s fiancée further confirmed that Plaintiff was not wearing
his hat when she saw him.
90. All Summit County Sheriff’s deputies must “call out” on the radio to identify
themselves whenever they drive a marked Sheriff’s cruiser, including when working
secondary employment. The pertinent SCSO radio logs contain no evidence that Plaintiff
drove a marked cruiser on the night Asefi claims she was assaulted.
91. There is no electronic data or evidence from any SCSO cruiser’s MDT
computer that indicates Plaintiff was driving a marked cruiser on the night Asefi claims
she was assaulted, in the areas Asefi claims she was assaulted.
92. There is no written record, employment record, or video evidence that
Plaintiff ever obtained a marked Sheriff’s cruiser on March 18, 2017.
93. None of Asefi’s DNA or vomit was found in any marked SCSO cruiser.
94. None of Asefi’s DNA or vomit was found in Plaintiff’s unmarked Chevy
Malibu.
95. No cell phone tower data places Plaintiff in the vicinity of Arlington Road, in
the area where Asefi claimed to Defendants McMillan and Forney that she was dropped
off at an IHop restaurant by her alleged assailant, on the morning of March 19, 2017,
when Asefi claims she was assaulted.
96. No video evidence places Plaintiff in the vicinity of Arlington Road on the
morning of March 19, 2017, when Asefi claims she was assaulted.
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97. Defendants McMillan and Forney were in possession and aware of the
content of Asefi’s text messages and/or recklessly ignored them. The record of Asefi’s
text messages before, during and after her alleged assault contradict, in numerous ways,
what she reported to Defendants McMillan and Forney, including, but not limited to:
a) From approximately 1:00 a.m. until 5:53 a.m. on the morning of
March 19, 2017, Asefi continuously sends text messages, such that
there would be no time for her to vomit for several minutes, get
searched by her assailant, groped, and forced to perform oral sex to
completion. There is simply no time in between text messages she
sends for this to occur;
b) In her text messages during the time at issue, Asefi repeatedly sends
messages saying she is “walking” down the street during the same
time she tells Defendants McMillan and Forney that she is in the back
of a marked cruiser and later being assaulted in the front seat of a
marked SCSO cruiser;
c) In her text messages, Asefi repeatedly lies to her alleged boyfriend
about where she is, in conflict with video surveillance footage
obtained by Defendants McMillan and Forney;
d) Asefi admits in text messages, after meeting with Akron police, that
she could not accurately identify her alleged assailant; and
e) In text messages, Asefi claimed she was put in handcuffs while
forced to perform oral sex, however she never told Defendants
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McMillan and Forney that she was handcuffed, and she later testified
under oath that she was never handcuffed.
98. Security camera footage contradicts Asefi’s allegations and statements to
Defendants McMillan and Forney:
a) Contrary to her claims, there is no video evidence that Asefi was
dropped off at IHop by a Sheriff’s deputy driving a marked cruiser;
b) The only car visible on security camera footage reviewed by
Defendants McMillan and Forney from outside of IHop was driving
an entirely different direction than Asefi claimed, and no person is
seen exiting the vehicle;
c) Immediately after Asefi claims she was sexually assaulted and
distraught, Asefi is seen on camera inside IHop laughing, joking, and
eating a full meal with five males; and
d) Asefi claimed to Defendants McMillan and Forney that she was too
distraught to eat at the IHop, but the restaurant’s surveillance video,
in Defendants McMillan and Forney’s possession, clearly depicts
Asefi eating an entire plate of food, taking more than 20 bites with
her fork.
99. Ms. Asefi never identified her assailant by name prior to being shown a “6
pack” photo lineup by Defendants McMillan and Forney that included Mr. Williamson.
100. Mr. Williamson has never sexually assaulted anyone. No one has ever
accused or suspected Mr. Williamson of sexual assault. Defendants McMillan and Forney
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had no evidence or reason to believe that Mr. Williamson had any history of or predilection
toward sexual assault.
101. Asefi reported on social media that she was going to get money as a result
of her allegations against Plaintiff.
102. Mr. Williamson denied he ever sexually assaulted anyone and was truthful
and forthright with Defendants McMillan and Forney.
103. Considering all of the evidence set forth above, no reasonable person would
believe that Plaintiff committed or could have committed the crimes alleged by Asefi.
104. At no time did the evidence revealed during Defendants McMillan and
Forney’s investigation rise to a level to support any probable cause finding that Mr.
Williamson did or even could have committed the crimes alleged by Asefi.
105. Furthermore, no reasonable person would believe that probable cause
existed to suspect, arrest, prosecute, or charge Plaintiff with any crimes in relation to the
allegations made by Asefi, or otherwise initiate, cause or contribute to any criminal
prosecution against Plaintiff.
Defendants McMillan And Forney Made False And Misleading Statements, And
Knowingly And/Or Recklessly Omitted Critical Information And Facts, In Their
Written Reports And Affidavits To Initiate And Further A Criminal Prosecution
Against Plaintiff
106. In response to their inquiry about a black Deputy who, according to Asefi,
was wearing a hat, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, through Defendant Kline,
instructed Defendants City of Akron, McMillan, and Forney to investigate Plaintiff
specifically.
107. Defendants McMillan and Forney undertook no investigation to discover or
otherwise investigate anyone other than Plaintiff.
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108. Despite not matching the physical description of Asefi’s alleged assailant,
Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades all suggested to Defendants McMillan and Forney
that they should investigate Plaintiff because Asefi said her assailant was black and wore
a hat.
109. Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades assisted Defendants McMillan and
Forney in initiating a prosecution of Plaintiff despite knowing that no probable cause
existed to do so.
110. Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades aided and abetted Defendants
McMillan and Forney in making false and misleading statements, and omitting critical
information, in their written reports and sworn affidavits.
111. Defendants McMillan and Forney did not explore any other suspects and
willfully and intentionally ignored other suspects who better matched Asefi’s description.
112. On information and belief, Defendants McMillan and Forney jointly wrote,
reviewed, and approved the Akron Police Department reports and other documents
created in relation to the investigation into Mr. Williamson over Asefi’s allegations. On
further information and belief, the statements contained in the reports were adopted by
both Defendants McMillan and Forney.
113. In their written reports, Defendants McMillan and Forney made multiple
intentionally false and misleading statements, all of which served to prejudice Plaintiff,
were designed to falsely infer his guilt in relation to Asefi’s allegations, and initiate and
further Plaintiff’s unlawful arrest, detention and criminal prosecution.
22
114. Defendants McMillan and Forney also intentionally omitted critical material
facts and information in the reports, documents and affidavits, which, had they been
included, would have served to both discredit Asefi and conclusively exonerate Plaintiff.
115. Defendants McMillan and Forney made the following non-exhaustive list of
intentionally false and misleading statements in their written reports, documents and/or
affidavits, all of which proximately caused or contributed to Plaintiff’s unlawful arrest and
prosecution:
a) Defendants McMillan and Forney falsely stated that a call from
Plaintiff’s cell phone “pinged” off of a cell tower on Arlington Road at
3:15 a.m. on March 19, 2017. This is not true, and this false
statement served to attempt to corroborate Asefi’s claim that Plaintiff
drove her in a marked cruiser to the IHop on Arlington Road around
that time. No such call was ever made, no such ping ever existed,
and no record of such a call or ping ever existed;
b) Defendants McMillan and Forney falsely stated in their written report
that Asefi “wasn’t sure” whether her assailant’s penis was
circumcised or not, but that there was “a lot of skin on it.” This false
statement served as an attempt to better match Asefi’s description
to the Plaintiff, who is circumcised. However, in her recorded
interview with Defendants McMillan and Forney, Asefi clearly and
firmly stated, twice, that her assailant “was not circumcised.” She
added “there was way too much skin.”
23
c) Defendant McMillan falsely swore in an affidavit dated April 11, 2017,
that Asefi stated “the suspect’s penis appeared to have ‘a lot of skin,’
suggesting he was uncircumcised.” This is false, as described
above;
d) Defendant McMillan further falsely swore in the April 11, 2017
affidavit, that “during a review of employment records he was able to
confirm that [Plaintiff] worked an extra job (though in uniform and
driving a marked patrol cruiser) in the area of 2500 Romig Road at
the time of the incident…” This statement is false, as no employment
records exist that confirm or even suggest that Plaintiff was driving a
marked patrol cruiser at his extra job around the time of the incident;
e) Defendants McMillan and Forney falsely stated in their written report
that from the security camera footage at the Walmart on Arlington
Road “[they] were able to observe a sheriff’s marked cruiser drive in
the far end of the Walmart lot and do a U turn behind the IHop
restaurant.” This statement is false; due to the poor quality of the
video, it is impossible to discern any details whatsoever of the vehicle
seen there. Only headlights and taillights are visible;
f) Defendant McMillan further falsely swore in an April 11, 2017
affidavit, that “during a review of the surveillance video for the
Walmart located on Arlington Road in Springfield Township
investigators were able to corroborate that Asefi was dropped off at
approximately 0330. It appears from the video that she was dropped
24
off by a vehicle with law enforcement emblems.” This statement is
false, as the security camera footage from Walmart shows a vehicle
pull through at 3:14 a.m., not 3:30; no people get out of the vehicle;
and it is impossible to discern any features of the vehicle, let alone
“law enforcement emblems” due to the profoundly poor quality of the
video;
g) Defendants McMillan and Forney falsely stated that “how [Plaintiff]
exposed himself” during their interview with Plaintiff was “similar to
the statement made by the victim.” This false statement served as
an effort to corroborate Asefi’s allegations. However, Asefi was clear
in her recorded interview with McMillan and Forney that she did not
see “how” her assailant exposed himself – his penis was allegedly
“already out” by the time she noticed it;
h) Defendants McMillan and Forney also falsely stated in their report
that the “photos of [Plaintiff’s] penis were similar to [Asefi’s]
description in her interview.” This false statement served to
corroborate Asefi’s allegations. However, Plaintiff is obviously
circumcised, and his penis looks nothing like an uncircumcised
penis.
116. Defendants McMillan and Forney intentionally and/or recklessly made the
following non-exhaustive list of material factual omissions from their written reports,
documents and/or affidavits:
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a) Asefi claimed her assailant was from Canton, Ohio. In her recorded
interview, Asefi said, “He said he was from Canton.” She also said
her assailant stated he was over in this part of town because he just
finished dropping someone off. Then, according to Asefi, her
assailant stated that he had to get back to Canton. However, Plaintiff
lived in Warrensville Heights, not Canton. Plaintiff was not in that part
of town because he was dropping someone off; he was working.
Defendants omitted this critical information;
b) Asefi stated her alleged assailant took Killian Road to get to the IHop,
not Interstate 77, which would have required the marked cruiser in
which she alleged she was assaulted to have been traveling south
on Arlington Road to get to IHop. This fact conflicted with security
camera footage that Defendants McMillan and Forney claimed
showed the assailant’s marked cruiser traveling north on Arlington
Road. Defendants McMillan and Forney excluded this critical
information in an effort to capitalize on video they did retrieve
showing a marked cruiser drive by – in the opposite direction it would
have been driving according to Asefi’s story;
c) Asefi claimed her assailant was between 30 and 37 years old.
Plaintiff was 46 at the time of the alleged assault. Yet Defendants
McMillan and Forney excluded Asefi’s description of her assailant’s
age from their reports;
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d) During Plaintiff’s initial interview with Defendants McMillan and
Forney, Plaintiff stated that he was not wearing his hat at all while in
his vehicle. Asefi claimed her alleged assailant kept his hat on the
entire time. Defendants McMillan and Forney left this out of their
reports; and
e) Defendants McMillan and Forney intentionally and/or recklessly
omitted the other numerous discrepancies concerning Asefi’s
account and descriptions as set forth herein above.
117. Defendants McMillan and Forney made these false statements and
material omissions unreasonably, recklessly and/or with malice and in order to unlawfully
initiate a criminal investigation against Plaintiff.
118. Through their investigation of Plaintiff, Defendants McMillan and Forney not
only demonstrated a general animus toward Plaintiff, but a racial animus. For example,
Defendant McMillan asked Asefi whether her assailant talked “black,” or whether he
talked “educated.”
119. The reports, affidavits and information completed and provided by
Defendants McMillan and Forney caused and contributed to Mr. Williamson being
subjected to arrest and criminal prosecution. Defendants McMillan and Forney’s reports,
affidavits, and information initiated and served to support the initiation and furtherance of
Mr. Williamson’s criminal prosecution.
120. On information and belief, the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office relied on
these reports and affidavits when deciding whether to seek an indictment of Plaintiff in
relation to Asefi’s allegations, and further relied on them when determining how to present
27
Plaintiff’s case for indictment, and ultimately whether to initiate, pursue and to continue to
pursue criminal charges against Plaintiff.
121. On information and belief, Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades were
aware of the false statements and material omissions made by Defendants McMillan and
Forney in their written reports and affidavits, including that prosecutors had relied on
those false and misleading statements in deciding to seek an indictment of Plaintiff and
in determining how to present the case for indictment, and deliberately took no action to
correct those false statements.
122. On further information and belief, had Defendants McMillan and Forney not
made false and misleading statements, and included all material facts in their reports and
affidavits, the investigation of Plaintiff, Plaintiff would have been rightfully excluded as a
suspect, would not have been referred for prosecution, and further, the Summit County
Prosecutor’s Office would not have chosen to seek to indict or to otherwise prosecute or
continue to prosecute Plaintiff.
123. On further information and belief, had Defendants Kline, Barry, and
Rhoades corrected the false statements and material omissions made by Defendants
McMillan and Forney and otherwise performed a reasonable and fair investigation,
Plaintiff would have rightfully been eliminated as a suspect, the investigation of Plaintiff
would not have been referred for prosecution, and further, the Summit County
Prosecutor’s Office would not have chosen to seek to indict or to otherwise prosecute or
continue to prosecute Plaintiff.
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124. Based upon Defendant McMillan and Forney’s false statements and
material omissions, Plaintiff was charged, arrested, indicted and prosecuted for rape,
kidnapping, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition.
Plaintiff’s Arrest, Trial, and Acquittal
125. Plaintiff turned himself in to the authorities and was arrested without
probable cause on or about July 20, 2017.
126. Plaintiff spent approximately one day in jail.
127. On July 21, 2017, Plaintiff was released after posting a $100,000 bond.
128. Plaintiff spent 30 days on house arrest. Then, Plaintiff was forced to wear
an ankle monitor for about one year, during which time he was under supervision and
forced to report to authorities on a weekly basis.
129. Plaintiff was forced to hire attorneys to defend himself against the serious
crimes alleged against him.
130. Shortly before trial on the sexual assault-related charges, the Summit
County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the rape and kidnapping counts against Mr.
Williamson.
131. Despite Defendants City of Akron, McMillan, and Forney’s false statements,
material omissions, and malicious prosecution of Plaintiff in violation of the Constitution
and the laws of the State of Ohio, Plaintiff was unanimously acquitted by the jury of all
remaining sexual assault-related counts.
The Selective Prosecution And Wrongful Termination Of Plaintiff Based On Race
132. During the City of Akron’s investigation of Plaintiff, Defendants McMillan and
Forney discovered that Plaintiff had used the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway (“OHLEG”)
29
system to search his own name or license plate on several occasions over the course of
many years, a typical and widespread practice during that time at SCSO.
133. Defendants City of Akron, McMillan, and Forney referred this information to
the Defendant Summit County Sheriff, including Defendant Barry and Defendant Kline,
for investigation, which they undertook.
134. Prior to the investigation of Plaintiff, the SCSO had not referred identified
violations of OHLEG policies or R.C. § 2913.04(D), the law governing law enforcement
use of OHLEG, to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution.
135. The SCSO requires a legitimate law enforcement purpose for each use of
the OHLEG system.
136. Prior to the investigation of Plaintiff, four other SCSO deputies were found
to have used the OHLEG system for illegitimate reasons.
137. All of those deputies were white.
138. The Defendant Summit County Sheriff, and specifically Defendant Barry,
intervened with regard to each of those investigations into misuse by white deputies to
prevent referral of those cases to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for criminal
prosecution.
139. The prior OHLEG investigations of white deputies, none of whom were
referred for criminal prosecution, revealed clearly improper OHLEG searches, including,
for example, of women for prurient interests; the search of a vehicle in public while the
deputy was off duty; the search of a tenant living at a deputy’s rental property; and one
deputy’s repeated searches of other deputies.
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140. Each and every self-search Plaintiff performed on OHLEG had a legitimate
law enforcement purpose and was allowed and authorized by his supervisors.
141. During SCSO’s OHLEG investigation into Plaintiff, Plaintiff was under
indictment for rape, kidnapping, sexual battery, and gross sexual imposition, and OHLEG
misuse crimes, and was therefore advised by his attorney against making any statements
to investigators to protect his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
142. Defendant Kline, who bore animus toward Plaintiff due to Plaintiff’s race and
Plaintiff’s prior service of a disciplinary write-up on Defendant Kline, was responsible for
conducting the investigation into Plaintiff’s alleged OHLEG violations.
143. Defendant Kline, who is white, has previously used OHLEG to search other
deputies’ names. He was never referred for criminal prosecution for these uses and
received no administrative discipline or adverse action.
144. Defendant Rhoades, who also bore animus toward Plaintiff due to Plaintiff’s
race, also assisted, aided, and abetted both the sexual assault and OHLEG-related
investigations into Plaintiff. On information and belief, Defendant Rhoades actively
encouraged the referral of Plaintiff’s OHLEG investigation for prosecution, as well as
Plaintiff’s termination from employment with SCO.
145. Prior to and including 2018, it was common practice at the SCSO for
supervisors to require deputies to perform OHLEG searches on themselves in preparation
for annual reviews.
146. Despite this, Defendant Kline claimed he was “unable to fathom any
possible law enforcement reasons” for Plaintiff’s self-searches. Making this claim even
31
more incredible is that Defendant Kline admitted under oath he has performed numerous
OHLEG searches other than for purposes of obtaining information on a criminal suspect.
147. Defendants Kline and Barry then referred Plaintiff’s case to the Summit
County Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution.
148. Defendant Barry deliberately chose not to intervene to prevent referral of
Plaintiff’s case for prosecution, as he had with every other similarly situated white deputy
in the past. Defendant Barry encouraged, aided, and abetted the disparate treatment of
Plaintiff based upon Plaintiff’s race.
149. Defendant Rhoades, Plaintiff’s supervisor in Internal Affairs, encouraged,
aided, and abetted the disparate treatment of Plaintiff based on race by encouraging the
referral of Plaintiff’s case for prosecution and his termination.
150. On January 2, 2018, Plaintiff was supplementally indicted with ten counts
of OHLEG violations, occurring from January 2014 through March 2017.
151. Shortly after Defendants Kline, Barry, and the Summit County Sheriff
referred Plaintiff’s alleged OHLEG violations for prosecution, the Ohio Attorney General’s
Office (“OAG”) became aware of many “bad practices” in the SCSO with regard to OHLEG
use, and told the Sheriff’s office it “was clear that… the Summit County Sheriff’s Office…
did not understand that running oneself through OHLEG was a violation of [the] rules and
regulations.”
152. The OAG then revoked all Summit County Sheriff’s deputies’ OHLEG
privileges and made them go through OHLEG recertification as a result.
153. Prior to 2018, it was a widespread practice within the SCSO for deputies to
conduct self-searches on OHLEG, for numerous authorized reasons.
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154. At the time Defendants Kline, Barry, and the Summit County Sheriff referred
Plaintiff’s case for prosecution, it was largely unknown within the SCSO that deputy self-
searches on OHLEG were actually a violation of OAG rules and regulations.
155. Following Plaintiff’s supplemental ten-count indictment for OHLEG-related
criminal violations, the Defendant Summit County Sheriff, aided and abetted by
Defendants Barry and Rhoades, terminated Plaintiff’s employment on or about April 19,
2018, citing his alleged OHLEG violations as the reason.
156. Plaintiff’s requests to postpone his administrative termination proceedings
while his criminal charges were pending, during which he was entitled to remain silent per
his 5th Amendment rights, until a time when he could fully participate without waiving said
rights was denied by SCSO. Instead, SCSO proceeded toward termination, over Plaintiff’s
objection that he was denied the ability to fully participate.
157. On February 24, 2021, Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands of the Summit
County Court of Common Pleas dismissed all of the OHLEG use-related criminal charges
against Plaintiff.
158. Following an evidentiary hearing, Judge Rowlands ruled that Defendant
Summit County Sheriff and Defendant Barry had selectively prosecuted (referred for
prosecution) Plaintiff – and that they did so on the basis of Plaintiff’s race in violation of
the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
159. Judge Rowlands ruled that the difference between Plaintiff’s treatment, and
that of numerous other white deputies, amidst the “training issues” cited by the OAG,
based on the same alleged conduct of violating the terms of OHLEG, was unexplained
by the Defendant Summit County Sheriff.
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160. The evidence demonstrated that other white deputies’ excuses for violating
OHLEG were accepted by SCSO without hesitation. None of them were referred for
prosecution. No white deputies who performed self-searches on OHLEG were fired as a
result.
161. Plaintiff, however, was not only fired for performing a self-search, but
referred for criminal prosecution and indicted.
162. Judge Rowlands found that the Defendant Summit County Sheriff’s
deliberate choice not to exercise any discretion in Plaintiff’s selection for prosecution for
the same violations committed by white deputies, who were not referred for prosecution,
and on whose behalf at times Sheriff Barry intervened, was “invidious conduct based on
[Plaintiff’s] race.”
163. Defendants SCSO and Barry are collaterally estopped and/or precluded,
under the doctrine of res judicata from claiming they did not engage in unconstitutional
selective prosecution as against Plaintiff as that issue has been finally resolved as a
matter of fact and law by a court of competent jurisdiction before which these Defendants
appeared.
164. Similarly, the Defendant Summit County Sheriff’s deliberate decision to
terminate Plaintiff’s employment for the same violations committed by white deputies,
whose employment was not terminated, is invidious conduct based on Plaintiff’s race.
165. Defendants SCSO and Barry’s purported basis for terminating Plaintiff,
which they stated was based solely on the alleged OHLEG violations and not on the
pending sexual assault charges or Plaintiff’s race/protected status, is a pretext, when in
34
fact Plaintiff’s termination and treatment by SCSO and Defendants Barry, Kline and
Rhoades was motivated by racial animus.
FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Against Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline, Barry,

and Rhoades for False Arrest and Malicious Prosecution in Violation of the
Fourth Amendment)
166. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation set forth in each
and every preceding paragraph as if fully rewritten herein.
167. Defendants McMillan and Forney made, influenced, and/or participated in
the decision to prosecute Plaintiff without probable cause by, among other things, writing
materially false, incomplete, and misleading incident reports and sworn affidavits related
to the subject incident, all of which resulted in Plaintiff’s unlawful arrest and prosecution.
168. Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades assisted Defendants McMillan and
Forney in initiating a prosecution of Plaintiff despite knowing that no probable cause
existed to do so.
169. Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades aided and abetted Defendants
McMillan and Forney in making false and misleading statements, and omitting critical
information, in their written reports and sworn affidavits.
170. Said Defendants’ involvement in making, influencing, and participating in
the criminal case against Plaintiff without probable cause caused him to be charged,
arrested, and indicted on charges of rape, kidnapping, sexual battery, and gross sexual
imposition, jailed, supervised, and forced to defend himself against serious criminal
charges.
35
171. The initiation and perpetuation of criminal charges against Plaintiff were
unlawful and without justification or probable cause.
172. The initiation and perpetuation of these criminal charges against Plaintiff by
Defendants resulted in a significant deprivation of Plaintiff’s liberty, separate and apart
from his initial arrest and required bond.
173. All criminal charges brought against Plaintiff stemming from the
investigation for which Defendants McMillan and Forney were responsible were resolved
in Plaintiff’s favor. The charges of rape and kidnapping were dismissed by the Summit
County Prosecutor’s Office, and Plaintiff was unanimously acquitted by the jury on all
remaining sexual assault-related charges.
174. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ conduct described herein,
Plaintiff was charged, arrested, confined, and incurred fees and costs associated with his
legal defense in the criminal case these Defendants caused to be initiated and allowed to
persist, suffered severe mental and emotional distress, and suffered other general and
special economic andnon-economic damages in amounts to be proven at trial.
175. At all times relevant, Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline, Barry, and
Rhoades were acting under color of law and within the scope of their employment and
official duties as law enforcement officers employed by the City of Akron and the SCSO.
Accordingly, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 2744.07, Defendant City of Akron must
indemnify Defendants McMillan and Forney, and Defendant SCSO must indemnify
Defendants Kline, Barry, and Rhoades for their conduct alleged herein in this Claim for
Relief.
36
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants McMillan, Forney,
Kline, Barry, and Rhoades, jointly and severally, for:
a. Compensatory damages, including legal fees and costs, in an amount

that will fully and fairly compensate Plaintiff for the harms and losses he
suffered, including emotional injuries and defamation to his reputation;
b. Punitive damages in an amount that will serve to adequately punish and

deter the acts and omissions of Defendants McMillan and Forney
alleged herein;
c. Costs of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees and interest, both pre-
judgment and post-judgment; and
d. All such other relief to which the Plaintiff is entitled and/or the Court
deems equitable.
SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Against Defendants Kline and Barry for Selective
Prosecution on the Basis of Race in Violation of the Fourteenth Amendment)
177. Plaintiff, an African American, is a member of a protected class.
178. As set forth above, Defendants Kline and Barry selected Plaintiff for
prosecution, and referred and initiated prosecution against him, for alleged misuse of the
OHLEG database based on Plaintiff’s race in violation of Plaintiff’s clearly established
rights guaranteed by the Equal Protection Clause of Fourteenth Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
179. Defendants Kline and Barry referred Plaintiff’s investigation for prosecution
in a manner different from how they have acted and would have acted had Plaintiff been
White instead of African American.
37
180. At least four other White deputies at the Summit County Sheriff’s Office
were found to have misused the OHLEG system, and none of them were referred for
prosecution. On information and belief, Defendant Barry intervened and prevented those
deputies’ cases from being referred for prosecution.
181. Plaintiff, an African American, was the only deputy whose alleged misuse
of OHLEG was referred for prosecution.
182. The U.S. Constitution prohibits the racial targeting and racially
discriminatory conduct by law enforcement officers.
183. As a direct and proximate result of the racially discriminatory prosecution of
and referral of prosecution of Plaintiff in violation of Plaintiff’s clearly established
Fourteenth Amendment rights, Plaintiff endured and suffered and continues to suffer
extreme conscious mental and emotional pain and suffering, and pecuniary loss,
including legal bills, and other economic and non-economic damages.
184. At all times relevant, Defendants Kline and Barry were acting under color of
law and within the scope of their employment and official duties as law enforcement
officers employed by the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Accordingly, pursuant to Ohio
Revised Code § 2744.07, Defendant Summit County Sheriff must indemnify Defendants
Kline and Barry for their conduct alleged herein in this Claim for Relief.
185. Defendants Kline and Barry are deemed to have engaged in
unconstitutional selective prosecution of Plaintiff as alleged herein as a matter of law
under the doctrine of res judicata. These Defendants are collaterally estopped and
otherwise precluded from relitigating the issue of unlawful selective prosecution as
38
against Plaintiff, having participated in a previous evidentiary hearing and court
proceeding, and being subject to a final judgment entry.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants Kline and Barry,
jointly and severally, for:

b. Punitive damages in an amount that will serve to adequately punish and

deter the acts and omissions of Defendants Kline and Barry alleged
herein;
deems equitable.
THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Against Defendant City of Akron for Failure to

Train and Supervise and for Unconstitutional Customs, Policies, and Practices
Causing Constitutional Violations)
187. On information and belief, City of Akron police officers have a known and
documented history of violating citizens’ constitutional rights, including repeated wrongful
and maliciously initiated prosecutions based upon false or misleading information or by
omitting critical material facts from their investigative reports and affidavits, about which
the City of Akron was aware, to which, however, it was and is deliberately indifferent.
188. On information and belief, Defendant City of Akron has a pattern and
practice of failing to adequately and properly train, supervise, investigate, and
39
punish/reprimand its police officers on the usually and known recurring circumstances
likely to be faced by the officers, including, but not limited to, the inclusion of false and
misleading statements in reports and affidavits, or the omission of material facts, in order
to initiate prosecution of certain individuals.
189. On information and belief, Defendant City of Akron promulgated and
implemented and/or otherwise condoned and tolerated customs and policies, written and
unwritten, for hiring, training, retention, and supervision and investigation of Akron police
officers on the inclusion of false and misleading statements in reports and affidavits, or
the omission of material facts, in order to initiate prosecution of certain individuals that,
on their face, violate the Fourth Amendment.
190. On information and belief, Defendant City of Akron ratified the
unconstitutional conduct of Defendants McMillan and Forney against Plaintiff, as is its
policy, practice, and/or custom, which thus signals to its police officers that they can
engage in unconstitutional seizures and prosecutions with impunity.
191. As a direct and proximate result of the customs and policies described
herein, which violate the Fourth Amendment and are otherwise implemented in a manner
such that constitutional violations are substantially certain and likely to occur, Plaintiff’s
Fourth Amendment rights were violated and he was forced to suffer and endure extreme
deprivations of his liberty, a wrongful prosecution, mental and emotional pain and
suffering, pecuniary loss, and legal fees and costs.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant City of Akron for:
a. Compensatory damages, including legal fees and costs, in an

amount that will fully and fairly compensate Plaintiff for the
damages and losses he suffered;
40
b. Costs of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1988 and interest, both pre-judgement and post-
judgment; and
c. All such other relief to which Plaintiff is entitled and/or this Court
deems equitable.
FOURTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Violation of 42 U.S.C. §1983 Against Defendant Summit County Sheriff Fatheree

for Unconstitutional Customs, Policies, and Practices Causing Constitutional
Violations)
193. Defendant Summit County Sheriff Fatheree, in her official capacity,
promulgated and implemented and/or otherwise condoned and tolerated customs and
policies, written and unwritten, for the investigation and referral for prosecution of Summit
County Sheriff’s deputies with regard to their use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway
that, on their face, violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
194. These customs, policies, and practices allowed only White deputies to
violate R.C. § 2913.04(D) and the related policies promulgated by the Ohio Attorney
General’s Office and otherwise misuse the OHLEG database, without being referred for
criminal prosecution.
195. These customs, policies, and practices did not permit African American
deputies to violate R.C. § 2913.04(D) and the related policies promulgated by the Ohio
Attorney General’s Office. If African American deputies were suspected of committing
such violations, they would be referred for criminal prosecution.
196. Plaintiff, an African American deputy, was suspected of violating R.C. §
2913.04(D) and the related policies promulgated by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office
41
as they relate to deputy use of the OHLEG database, and his case was referred to the
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office for prosecution.
197. Plaintiff’s OHLEG-related charges were dismissed by Summit County Court
of Common Pleas Judge Mary Margaret Rowlands on February 24, 2021 for selective
prosecution in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Judge Rowlands found that Plaintiff was deliberately and selectively prosecuted on the
basis of his race.
198. As a direct and proximate result of the customs and policies described
herein, which violate the Fourteenth Amendment and are otherwise implemented in a
manner such that constitutional violations are substantially certain and likely to occur,
Plaintiff’s Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated and he was forced to suffer and
endure a wrongful criminal prosecution, termination of his employment, extreme mental
and emotional pain and suffering, lost wages and earning capacity, and other pecuniary
loss, including legal fees and costs.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant Summit County
Sheriff Fatheree in her official capacity for:

b. Costs of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees and interest, both pre-
c. All such other relief to which the Plaintiff is entitled and/or the Court
deems equitable.
42
FIFTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Unlawful Discriminatory Practices in Violation of R.C. § 4112.02(A), (I) And (J)

Against Defendants Summit County Sheriff Fatheree In Her Official Capacity,
Barry, Kline, and Rhoades)
200. At all times relevant, Defendant Summit County Sheriff Fatheree, in her
official capacity as Summit County Sheriff, was an “Employer” as defined by R.C. §
4112.01(A)(2).
201. At all times relevant, Plaintiff was employed by Defendant Summit County
Sheriff as a Deputy Sheriff with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
202. Plaintiff is African American.
203. Throughout the course of his employment, Plaintiff was consistently treated
differently than his similarly-situated peers by his employer and supervisors because of
his race, in violation of R.C. § 4112.02(A).
204. As set forth above, Plaintiff had previously complained of and actively
opposed racial discrimination and other conduct in violation of R.C. § 4112.02 et seq.
during his employment with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.
205. Defendant Rhoades was Plaintiff’s supervisor at the time of his wrongful
termination, and had demonstrated a racial animus toward Plaintiff prior to his termination.
206. Defendant Barry was also Plaintiff’s supervisor and was the Sheriff of
Summit County at the time of Plaintiff’s wrongful termination, and had demonstrated a
racial animus toward Plaintiff prior to his termination.
43
207. Defendant Kline was responsible for investigating Plaintiff’s alleged OHLEG
misuse and participated in Plaintiff’s unlawful termination predicated on race.
208. As set forth above, Defendant Summit County Sheriff and the Defendants
set forth in this Claim for Relief unlawfully and pretextually terminated Plaintiff’s
employment, falsely claiming that Plaintiff had violated the rules and regulations
governing use of the Ohio Law Enforcement Gateway.
209. Plaintiff was treated differently than similarly situated White deputies and
was terminated because of his race and because of his prior opposition to racial
discrimination in the Summit County Sheriff’s Office in violation of R.C. § 4112.02(A) and
(I).
210. Defendants Rhoades, Kline and Barry actively encouraged, aided, and
abetted the disparate treatment and termination of Plaintiff based upon his race. In this
Claim for Relief, Defendants Rhoades, Kline and Barry are individually sued only for
specifically violating R.C. § 4112.02(J).
211. As a direct and proximate result of the discriminatory and retaliatory
conduct of Defendants Summit County Sheriff, Rhoades, and Barry described herein,
Plaintiff suffered and will continue to suffer damages, including past and future lost wages,
lost earning capacity, extreme mental and emotional distress, and other economic and
non-economic damages in an amount to be proven at trial.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendant Summit County
Sheriff Fatheree in her official capacity for:

suffered, including lost wages, lost earning capacity, and emotional
injuries;
44
b. Costs of suit and reasonable attorneys’ fees and interest, both pre-
c. All such other relief to which the Plaintiff is entitled and/or the Court
deems equitable.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants Rhoades, Kline
and Barry for:

b. Punitive damages against Defendants Rhoades, Kline and Barry in an

amount that will serve to adequately punish and deter the acts and
omissions of Defendants Rhoades, Kline and Barry alleged herein;
deems equitable.
SIXTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Against Defendants McMillan, Forney,

Kline, Rhoades and Barry)
213. As described throughout this Complaint, Defendants McMillan, Forney,
Kline, Rhoades, and Barry either intended to cause emotional distress or knew or should
have known that their actions would result in severe emotional distress to Plaintiff.
214. Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline, Rhoades, and Barry’s conduct, which
included maliciously and selectively prosecuting Plaintiff for heinous crimes he did not
commit, and terminating his employment based upon his race, was so extreme and
45
outrageous as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and be utterly intolerable in
a civilized society.
215. As a direct and proximate result of the extreme and outrageous conduct as
alleged herein, Plaintiff endured and suffered psychic injury; and the mental anguish
suffered by Plaintiff was serious and of a nature that no reasonable person could be
expected to endure.
216. At all times relevant, Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline, Rhoades, and
Barry were acting under color of law and within the scope of their employment and their
official duties as law enforcement officers employed by the City of Akron and the Summit
County Sheriff’s Office.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants McMillan, Forney,
Kline, Rhoades, and Barry, jointly and severally, for:

suffered, including emotional injuries;
b. Punitive damages against Defendants McMillan, Forney, Kline,

Rhoades, and Barry in an amount that will serve to adequately punish
and deter the acts and omissions of said Defendants alleged herein;
deems equitable.
46
SEVENTH CLAIM FOR RELIEF
(Malicious Prosecution Claim Against Defendants McMillan and Forney Under

Ohio Law)
218. For the same reasons Defendants McMillan and Forney are liable for
malicious prosecution under federal law, they are also liable for malicious prosecution
under Ohio law.
219. Defendants McMillan and Forney engaged in, as set forth herein above,
malicious, willful, wanton, bad faith conduct and/or in a manner whereby they acted with
conscious and reckless disregard rendering them unentitled to state law immunity for their
conduct.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgment against Defendants McMillan and
Forney, jointly and severally:

b. Punitive damages against Defendants McMillan and Forney in an

amount that will serve to adequately punish and deter the acts and
omissions of Defendants McMillan and Forney alleged herein;
deems equitable.
47
TRIAL BY JURY ON ALL CLAIMS FOR RELIEF HEREBY DEMANDED.
/s/ Nicholas A. DiCello

NICHOLAS A. DICELLO (0075745)
JEREMY A. TOR (0091151)
MICHAEL P. LEWIS (0099621) (Motion for
Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Forthcoming)
SPANGENBERG SHIBLEY & LIBER LLP
1001 Lakeside Avenue East, Suite 1700
Cleveland, OH 44114
(216) 696-3232
(216) 696-3924 (FAX)
ndicello@spanglaw.com
jtor@spanglaw.com
mlewis@spanglaw.com
IAN N. FRIEDMAN (0068630)

BRAD S. WOLFE (0096423)
FRIEDMAN & NEMECEK, L.L.C.
1360 East 9th Street, Suite 650
Cleveland, OH 44114
Counsel for Plaintiffs
48

Lawsuit Filed by Antonio Williamson

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Case: 5:21-cv-00565-JRA Doc #: 1 Filed: 03/10/21 1 of 48.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

ANTONIO WILLIAMSON ) CASE NO. 5:21-cv-565

DET. JASON KLINE )

named Defendants, states and avers as follows:

1. Plaintiff Antonio Williamson is a former Lieutenant with the Summit County

career as a law enforcement officer.

2. In March of 2017, a woman complained to the Akron Police Department that

3. When DNA and physical evidence excluded Mr. Williamson as a suspect,

without probable cause and in violation of the United States Constitution.

4. As a result of these false statements and material omissions, Mr. Williamson

Mr. Williamson steadfastly maintained his innocence.

(sometimes hereinafter, “SCSO”), under former Sheriff Steve Barry, undertook an

6. On January 2, 2018, a supplemental indictment was issued charging

Mr. Williamson with 10 additional counts for criminal OHLEG misuse.

7. On or about April 19, 2018, the Summit County Sheriff terminated

Mr. Williamson’s employment for his alleged improper uses of OHLEG.

9. Shortly before trial on the sexual assault-related charges, Summit County

related charges and prosecution remained pending against Mr. Williamson.

grounds of unconstitutional selective prosecution based on race. Specifically, after

on the basis of race.

11. Similarly, the Summit County Sheriff’s termination of Mr. Williamson’s

States Code and Ohio common and statutory law.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367.

15. Venue in this judicial district is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b)(1)

Office was wrongfully terminated on or about April 19, 2018.

official capacity. Defendant Sheriff Fatheree is white.

18. Defendant Sheriff Fatheree is a “person” as defined under 42 U.S.C. §

of law in her official capacity.

21. Defendant City of Akron is a “person” as defined under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

22. Defendant City of Akron is responsible for the administration, operation,

Northern District of Ohio. Defendants McMillan and Forney are white.

Defendant Kline is white.

and scope of his position as Sheriff. Defendant Barry is white.

Plaintiff’s termination from SCSO. Defendant Rhoades is white.

4112.01(A)(1) and are being sued herein in their individual capacities.

GENERAL FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

Office as a Deputy Sheriff on or about February 16, 1999.

expectations on performance evaluations.

with this disciplinary write-up at Defendant Kline’s home.

American deputies in coveted, full-time specialty assignments, such as narcotics,

representative of the people of Summit County.

promotion to Lieutenant, at least in part because of his race as an African American.

and scheduling assignments/opportunities once they were Lieutenants.

were no longer scheduled to occur on the same day.

about the disproportionate lack of African Americans in leadership roles at SCSO

compared to the community’s composition of African Americans.

44. Plaintiff’s direct supervisor in Internal Affairs, Defendant Rhoades, told

to were inmates in the Summit County Jail.

OHLEG misuse-related criminal charges against Plaintiff on the basis of unconstitutional

selective prosecution, “Race was admittedly a factor in [Plaintiff’s] promotion.”

The Night of March 18, 2017

in or about November 2016.

substantiated against him.

bureau vehicle – a light blue Chevy Malibu.

employment jobs approved by SCSO.

secondary employment providing security at the Woods apartment complex on Romig