Chicago Police Officer Jalen Woods Files Lawsuit Against Tempe, Arizona Over Unjust Arrest

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago police officer is suing the city of Tempe, Arizona after he says he was arrested without cause.

Police in Arizona took him into custody for allegedly squealing his tires, but the officer says his civil rights were violated.

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Pulled from the car, handcuffed and put on the curb, a Chicago police officer said he was stopped for squealing his tires while driving in Tempe on a vacation last summer. Now, the active duty officer and his lawyer are looking for legal justice for arresting and humiliating Officer Jalen Woods.

Body-camera video showed a team of Tempe bike police surrounded the bright red rented Dodge Hellcat. Woods stepped out of the driver’s seat, confused, but he complied.

Woods did not say he is with the Chicago Police Department, but identified himself as an officer.

At the advice of one of the officers, the body-worn cameras go silent.

In a police report, officers wrote: “While the vehicle was stopped in traffic and continuously revving the engine, the rear tires began to create a squealing noise for approximately 1-2 seconds.”

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court, Woods disputes that.

“They said his tires were squealing, which doesn’t make any sense because on the body camera video, you don’t see any tires squealing at all,” Woods’ attorney Benjamin Taylor said.

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Woods says prosecutors dismissed the case against him last year.

In the newly-filed lawsuit, the Chicago police officer’s attorney says Tempe police officers violated Woods’ civil rights and racially profiled him.

“It doesn’t make any sense, and the police have discretion to let a person go or not even have to arrest person for schooling tires,” Taylor said. “It’s a ridiculous type law, but the police in Tempe overreach. That’s why we filed this lawsuit, because of the overreaching, the harassment, the wrongful arrest. And he wasn’t charged for any crime.”

The city of Tempe responded, saying in part, “While we respect his position as a fellow law enforcement officer, in Tempe every individual — regardless of occupation, race, or background — is subject to the same laws and enforcement standards. The Tempe Police Department stands by our officers.”

The Tempe Police Department finished its internal review of the arrest and found the officers did nothing wrong.

“Woods’ arrest was reviewed by our department’s accountability processes, which confirmed our officers acted lawfully and appropriately,” the city’s statement said. “While we respect his position as a fellow law enforcement officer, in Tempe every individual — regardless of occupation, race, or background — is subject to the same laws and enforcement standards. The Tempe Police Department stands by our officers.”