Alabama Judge Dismisses Case Against Black Man Attacked By Police Dog

Source: Wukela Communications / Wukela Communications

A judge in Alabama has dismissed a criminal case against a Black man who is suing the Sheffield Police Department after being attacked at his home in June of 2021.

Marvin Long was assaulted by Alabama police officers and a police dog while he cried for help in front of his home, according to reports.

Body camera video of officers assaulting Long, which went viral in 2023, showed a 53-year-old Black man who was unarmed and had committed no crime, directing the officers to leave his property. Instead of leaving, the video shows the officers assaulting Long, wrestling him to the ground and siccing a K9 officer on him as he calls for help. One of the officers can also be heard telling the K9 officer to, “Bite him! Bite him! Get him! Bite him! Good!”

Long was arrested for resisting arrest, but according to the judge, the state did not meet its burden of proof and the case was tossed.

From WAFF:

“Then the judge rendered a decision after watching a little bit of the video that was in question,” Attorney Tony Hughes said. “The judge watched the video and then he issued a ruling. So, definitely both of us are pleased. Like Jeff said, our client, Mr. Long, Marvin, is ecstatic. He’s happy. It’s the right result.”

Both of Long’s attorneys said they are all glad that a judge dismissed the case yesterday.

“Long is ecstatic,” Attorney Jeff Redcross said. “He was, he didn’t know when judge issued his ruling. He didn’t really know it was over. My Co-counselor had to tell him it was over and he was shaking in his chair in joy.”

According to a press release, Long has also filed a federal lawsuit against the officers who attacked him as well as the City of Sheffield. He is represented by nationally renowned Civil Rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Roderick Van Daniel. Daniels and Van Daniel also represent Pastor Michael Jennings, the Childersburg pastor who was arrested while watering his neighbors flowers, as well as Jawan Dallas, the unarmed Black man who was tased to death by Mobile police officers.

“By dismissing this charge, the judge has confirmed what we have known from the very beginning: these officers had no right to even be on Marvin Long’s property, let alone assault him and cheer while they sicced their police dog on him, attorneys for Marvin Long said.

“This is one of the most egregious violations I have ever seen and Americans should be shocked. They went out of their way to harass and attack Mr. Long while he was unarmed, on his own property and had committed no crime. If these officers could do this to him, without any fear of repercussion, they could do it to any of us.”

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