A former University of Maryland student is suing University Police for more than $1 million, claiming that two of its officers unlawfully seized him from his Oakland Hall dorm and held him inside an interrogation room for more than three hours, according to a document from the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
The lawsuit, which was filed by Ronald H. Posyton III on March 31, is against University Police Officers William L. Mable III and Michael Thomas, as well as this university and the state, according to the document.
On Sept. 18, at 7 p.m., a student not identified in the document informed Thomas that an unknown person had made “brief contact” with their leg without permission and that they had not suffered any physical injury, according to the document.
Thomas and Mable, who were tasked with investigating the case, arrived dressed in suits and armed at Oakland Hall Sept. 23 at 9 a.m. after receiving information about him being a person of interest, according to the document. Without a warrant, the two officers allegedly forced Posyton, then a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences, to go to University Police headquarters for questioning, even though he was still wearing pajamas.
“The UMPD officers neither possessed a warrant, nor had probable cause to seize me from my dorm,” Posyton wrote in an email. “I had neither been accused of having committed a crime, nor had committed a crime, but sadly, the UMP officers had decided to abuse their power and simply seized me from my home.”
While being held in an interrogation room, Posyton said he repeatedly exclaimed, “I’m really scared,” and was concerned that this incident could lead to his expulsion from the university, according to the documents. Posyton claimed that for roughly three and a half hours, he was unlawfully questioned by Thomas and Mable without ever being read his rights, according to the document.
During his attempt to contact University Police after the incident, Posyton was allegedly laughed at and threatened with harassment charges if he were to contact University Police again, according to the document. Police allegedly refused to provide Posyton with a police report.
Both university officials and the University Police department have acknowledged receipt of the lawsuit but will not provide comment at this time, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas and university spokeswoman Crystal Brown.
The incident caused Posyton to “suffer injuries of both body and mind,” lose a semester of school and face emotional distress, depression and loss of enjoyment of life, among other grievances, according to the document.
He withdrew from the university because he “became afraid of UMPD,” he wrote in an email.
As a result, Posyton is seeking nominal damages of $10,000 and compensatory damages of $1 million, or whatever amount is proven at trial, according to the document. Posyton also is asking for compensation for court costs, fees and other expenses. Posyton is currently demanding jury trial.
“It would be an absolute shame for the University of Maryland to take the low road, and use its team of attorneys in an effort for the University to avoid taking responsibility for the actions of its employees,” Posyton wrote in an email. “If the University places monetary value over the [principles] for which it stands for, then it really stands for nothing at all.”
