STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Wisconsin Man Files Federal Lawsuit After Being Detained By Police In His Own Home

Keonte Furdge’s neighbor called cops because they didn’t think he belonged there.

A Black man who was briefly detained by Monona, Wisconsin police in June after a neighbor reported him sitting on the steps of a home he had just moved into has filed a federal lawsuit.

According to the suit that was just released, Keonte Furdge claims officers Jared Wedig and Luke Wunsch as well as the city of Monona violated “Furge’s constitutional rights."

Furdge is seeking change through punitive damages by, "punishing the defendants for their egregious conduct with the hope that the punishment is significant enough to prevent this from happening again in the future, so that a person can move into a formerly vacant house in the City of Monona and sit on his front porch without having to fear that the police will break in and shoot him," according to the court filing.

RELATED: Watch: Cops Question Black Man For Having Too Many Credit Cards

The June 2 incident began when a neighbor called police to report that they saw an individual that they didn't think belonged at the home. Furdge, however, had just moved into the property with his friend Toren Young.

Police would subsequently arrive and claim they knocked on the house’s front door. After also allegedly announcing their presence, they say they entered the home, guns drawn, believing a burglary was taking place.

The two officers then handcuffed Furdge.

After learning that Furdge lived at the property, handcuffs were removed. Monona police later began a review of their procedures.

Read the lawsuit here.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.