Mother Sues Winter Haven Police Over Controversial Arrest of Daughter

Controversial Arrest and Lawsuit

• 📌 A mother, Mariah Banks, is suing Winter Haven police following a controversial arrest where officers pointed a gun at her and her three-year-old daughter.
• ⚠️ Banks claims her daughter is forever traumatized by the incident and suffers from PTSD, not being herself since the event.
• ⚖️ Banks, along with her attorney and civil rights activists, is demanding the removal of the officer who pointed his firearm at her and her child.

Incident Details and Allegations

• 💥 The arrest occurred on March 4th after officers responded to a fight at Santiago's market involving Banks's child's father, Godfrey Hercules, and a store employee, Jesus Perez.
• 🔪 Banks alleges that surveillance video shows Perez was the aggressor and pulled a knife, while police bodycam video showed her and her daughter on the ground.
• 🗣️ Banks's attorney stated that police committed assault by pointing their firearms without probable cause at an unarmed mother and a child.

Demands and Investigations

• 📢 Banks is suing the restaurant and demanding charges for the employee who reportedly provided false information.
• 🚫 She is also calling for the officers involved to be fired and has requested the DOJ to investigate their actions and the Winter Haven police chief.
• 🤝 Civil rights activists are involved, demanding accountability and transparency from the police department and its chief, Vance Monroe.
• 🗣️ The police chief defends his officers but states the department is reviewing ways to mitigate similar situations in the future.