On December 30, 2023, Quincy Myers was at the Cell Block bar in Williamsport visiting with his friends. Shortly after midnight, the plaintiff and some of his friends decided to leave. He exited the bar onto the sidewalk where his friends were waiting and preparing to say goodbye.
As he approached his friends a security guard from the bar shoved Mr. Myers. He explained that the security guard had no right to put his hands on him. The security guard then threatened to call the police to which the plaintiff agreed he should.
Defendant Wheeler responded to the call and arrived at the Cell Block bar where he began to speak with the security guard while ignoring the plaintiff.
Mr. Myers began to record on his phone since he was concerned about the attitudes of the responding officers. He asked officer Wheeler for his badge number to which the officer gave freely along with his last name, "Wheeler". The plaintiff asked for his first name again this time adding the N-word to the end. "What is your name, n****r?"
This enraged officer Wheeler who immediately seized Mr. Myers, handcuffed him, arrested him and threw him bodily into his police cruiser. The plaintiff attempted profess that he did not mean to insult him. The plaintiff was arrested at that time for disorderly conduct but the charges were later dropped.
Mr. Myers has filed a lawsuit against Officer Brandon Wheeler in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, case number 4:24-cv-00763-MWB, on May 7, 2024. The suit alleges civil rights violations under 42 U.S.C. §1983 and state law claims including false arrest, excessive force, and assault.
Myers is seeking judgment against Wheeler for damages including harm to his reputation, fear, anxiety, anguish, and embarrassment. He also requests costs, attorney’s fees, punitive damages, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.