DETROIT, Michigan — A black former Whirlpool executive is suing Michigan State Police, alleging that two officers arrested him for drunkenness after he passed a series of sobriety tests during a traffic stop earlier this year in the Berrien County, Michigan.

Dakarai Larriett, a native of Alabama, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, seeking $10 million in damages. According to the lawsuit, Larriett was accused of operating under the influence of a controlled substance, but the charge was dropped due to lack of evidence.

Michigan State Police say they have launched an internal affairs investigation, but dispute the allegations.

MSP sent a statement to CBS News Detroit that said in part: “At no time did MSP troopers attempt to plant narcotics on Mr. Larriett or in his vehicle. The term “hiding” referred to the soldier’s inability to locate his preliminary breath reserve. Test straws (PBT), necessary for administering a PBT.

MSP further stated that its investigation concluded that the traffic stop was conducted in accordance with department policy and legal standards.

The lawsuit alleges that Larriett was passing through Benton Harbor on April 10, 2024, when he was stopped and treated with “hostility and suspicion” based on race. According to an affidavit, Larriett said officers asked him questions about his education level, occupation and car.

Larriett claimed that after performing sobriety tests, he was transported to a nearby hospital for a blood test before being taken to the Berrien County Jail. According to the affidavit, an X-ray taken during the booking process showed “an abnormality” and one of the officers allegedly attempted to pressure Larriett into admitting that he had swallowed a bag of drugs; however, the affidavit states the anomaly was later determined to be gas bubbles.

Larriett says he ordered a 12-panel drug test the next day at urgent care, showing he was negative for all drugs.

“It is clear that the officers planned to put drugs in the complainant’s vehicle and implicate him in a drug crime, as they also attempted to do at the jail. The complainant did not have any weed nor alcohol. The complainant was neither drugged nor intoxicated The complainant did not rape “The complainant was black, was driving an expensive car, with another black man as a passenger at night and was therefore caught for. target”, we can read in the trial.

In the complaint, Larriett’s legal team submitted examples of one of the officer’s social media accounts that they say exhibits “obvious homophobia, transphobia, racism and misogyny.”

The lawsuit also claims that Larriett requested that his information be removed from all databases, but his request was denied.

“This case is about more than just one individual,” civil rights attorney Shawndrica Simmons, who represents Larriett, said in a statement. “This is about holding the Michigan State Police accountable for their actions and sending a clear message that racial discrimination and homophobia have no place in our society. The abuse suffered by Dakarai Larriett must never happen again.”

Full MSP statement

“The Michigan State Police is committed to impartial policing and treating all individuals fairly. We take any allegations of misconduct with the utmost seriousness.

At no time did MSP officers attempt to plant drugs on Mr. Larriett or in his vehicle. The term “stash” referred to the soldier’s inability to locate his supply of preliminary breath test (PBT) straws, necessary for administering a PBT.

After learning of the allegations contained in Mr. Larriett’s lawsuit, we initiated an internal affairs investigation. Regarding the traffic stop, the investigation concluded that the stop was carried out in accordance with ministry policy and legal standards. Sexist, racist and homophobic comments are not consistent with the values ​​of the Michigan State Police. The allegation regarding these personal social media posts is part of the internal affairs investigation. »

We want to assure the community that this matter will continue to be handled professionally and with the utmost integrity.