In May 2021, Mason Murphy was walking on the shoulder of a rural road in Sunrise Beach, Missouri when he was approached by local police officer Michael Schmitt. Despite not breaking any laws, Murphy was handcuffed and detained for two hours after arguing with Schmitt about providing identification. Schmitt struggled to provide a valid reason for the arrest, ultimately releasing Murphy without charges.
Five months later, Murphy sued Schmitt for violating his First Amendment rights, a claim that was initially dismissed but later revived by the U.S. Supreme Court in light of a recent decision that made it easier for victims of retaliatory arrests to seek compensation.
Murphy had actually violated a Missouri statute by walking on the wrong side of the road, a fact that Schmitt referenced during their encounter. Despite Schmitt’s claims that Murphy was intoxicated and refusing to identify himself, Murphy was sober and had not committed any crimes. Schmitt’s lack of knowledge about the law further supported Murphy’s argument that his arrest was retaliatory.
Throughout the encounter, Murphy questioned the legality of Schmitt’s actions and repeatedly asked what crime he had committed. Despite being arrested, Murphy remained calm and continued to challenge Schmitt’s authority. The argument escalated after the arrest, with Murphy criticizing the officers and Schmitt struggling to articulate the charges against him.
During the ride to the county jail, Murphy continued to contest the lawfulness of Schmitt’s actions, criticizing him for not wearing a seatbelt among other things.
Murphy was not violent, but both he and Schmitt exchanged degrading comments during their interaction. After arriving at the county jail, Schmitt called a senior officer for advice on charging Murphy, who was not cooperating. Murphy was then threatened by Officer Pedigo while questioning why he was being detained. Despite not committing a clear crime, Murphy was kept in a cell by Schmitt’s orders and insulted by officers. The incident was captured on video and led to Pedigo’s termination.
The Sheriff of Camden County expressed outrage at the officers’ behavior and apologized to the victim and the community. The Supreme Court has sent Murphy’s case back to the 8th Circuit, where he argues that his arrest was retaliatory for protesting police conduct. The court will decide if his First Amendment rights were violated, based on evidence of differential treatment by law enforcement.
Despite probable cause for arrest, Murphy contends that he was targeted for a common offense due to his criticism of the police. The 8th Circuit panel did not find sufficient evidence of disparate treatment, but dissenting Judge Grasz believed Murphy’s claims were plausible. The incident at the jail may be relevant to Murphy’s case, as it sheds light on the officers’ behavior towards him. The Sunrise Beach Police Department’s enforcement of the Missouri statute regarding walking on the wrong side of the road has raised concerns about Officer Schmitt’s motivations for arresting Murphy. Rather than citing the specific law, it appears that Officer Schmitt arrested Murphy for challenging him, leading to suspicions of pretextual decision-making.
In line with the Nieves exception, Murphy may have a chance to prove his claim, even without naming individuals who were not arrested for a similar offense. If allowed discovery, it could be shown that arrests for this particular violation are rare, suggesting that Murphy was targeted due to his confrontation with Schmitt.
While Murphy could have avoided arrest by complying with Schmitt’s request to identify himself, he chose to assert his rights and question the legality of the inquiry. This decision may have irked Schmitt, but challenging authority is not a crime. Murphy now has an opportunity to defend his actions and uphold the right to question law enforcement.
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