Fayetteville to provide lawyers for officers accused of police brutality

Fayetteville leaders have agreed to provide legal counsel for officers accused of police brutality in a lawsuit related to a 2020 arrest.

Sheila Lee, 56, filed a 23-page lawsuit against several Fayetteville police officers, former Police Chief Gina Hawkins and Mayor Mitch Colvin. She claimed police brutalized her during a traffic stop four years ago.

In December 2023, Lee said she was pulled over because Fayetteville police officers thought her license plate on her car was fake.

“A woman this age needing five officers to really be able to handle her in this way -- It's difficult for me to comprehend,” said Fayetteville City Councilman Mario Benavente, “which is why I’m so interested in seeing the body cam footage that we have  about this."

The lawsuit claims officers cut Lee’s seatbelt. It also claims the officers “threw Ms. Lee onto the cold pavement and into the mud, knocking out her front teeth, re-injuring her shoulder, hurting her knee, and pulling at her clothing exposing her body to the elements and the view of bystanders.”

The suit also claims Lee’s mouth began to fill will with blood from allegedly being punched by an officer. When she spit it out, an officer claimed she spit on them. So, they put mesh bag over her head.

“This ‘spit mask’ caused the blood from her mouth to pool inside it and interfered with her ability to communicate with anyone,” the lawsuit states.

The officers named in the lawsuit asked the city to provide legal counsel for them.

"I would like to move that we authorize a request for legal representation and petition the court for disclosure of the body cam footage,” Fayetteville City Councilwoman Brenda McNair said.

City council members unanimously approved the request.

The lawsuit calls for a jury trial. The city council and interim city attorney Lachelle Pulliam will determine if the case goes to court.

However, Benavente, who is an attorney, knows resolving this case may not be the end.

"We know that whether we provide attorneys for our officers or not, there's allows potential for that they can come back and sue the city again," Benavente said.

Lee's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages in an amount to be determined by a jury if the case goes to court.