A Mississippi police officer was caught lying under oath about why he arrested a Black woman. His own body camera footage showed his testimony was false, according toAtlanta Black Star.

The woman, Jhaqulia Stevens, was arrested in February 2023 — while driving she spotted her brother being taken into custody down the street.. 

Laurel Police Officer Patrick Dickerson told her to keep moving, and she did. Her brother, sitting in the back of the patrol car, asked her to call their father. She replied, “I am.” Later in court, Dickerson claimed that Stevens cursed at him, saying, “f_ck you, it’s a public road, I can do what I want.” The video showed she never said that.

The footage also proved she followed his orders. Dickerson testified that her door was closed when he walked up to her car and that she refused to get out for two minutes. The video clearly showed her door was already open, and she stepped out in less than 10 seconds. He also told the judge she pulled away when he tried to handcuff her, which was not true.

Stevens was charged with resisting arrest and failure to comply and spent four hours in jail before being released. 

Her lawyer, Matt Lawrence, told the judge, “I would move to dismiss because the totally unreliable, untruthful testimony of the officer on the stand. He seems to be willing to make up whatever he needs to justify that’s on video.”

The judge dismissed the charges.

Stevens later filed a lawsuit against the city, Dickerson, and other officers for false arrest, unlawful seizure, and encouraging a culture of rights violations. She settled the case in October 2024.

Despite being caught lying, Dickerson was never disciplined and continues to work as an officer.