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The mother of a 15-year-old girl who a D.C. police officer allegedly forced her to strip then photographed her has sued the city for $10 million.
On November 30, 2013, Tamikquela J. Cherry reported her daughter, identified as “D.C.” in a court filing, missing with the Metropolitan Police Department. Officer Marc Washington was assigned to the case. Cherry’s daughter returned home on December 1, 2013, and Cherry notified MPD of her return.
Cherry alleges that Washington came to the house “under the guise and pretense of concluding his ‘investigation.'” He allegedly asked to speak to Cherry’s daughter alone and he took her into a back bedroom. There, Cherry alleges, he asked “D.C.” to remove her clothing so he could photograph “scares, injuries and tattoos.”
According to the court filing, “D.C.” protested but Washington “persisted.” “Feeling fearful and compelled to obey D.C. did as she had been ordered,” according to the filing. Washington allegedly photographed her vaginal breast and anal areas.
“D.C.” reported what happened to her mother, who contacted MPD. Washington was arrested and charged shortly thereafter. After one court appearance, after which he was released, Washington was found dead of an apparent suicide.
With the Cochran Law Firm, Cherry has filed suit against D.C., arguing that MPD and the city were “negligent for placing Officer Washington in a position to force D.C. to submit to this assault as a pretense of an investigation.” The suit alleges that the minor has suffered emotional injury “and will continue to suffer emotion distress.”
One month after Washington committed suicide, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier said there were no indicators in Washington’s past that would have raised red flags about his alleged future conduct.
The suit seeks $10 million over the alleged assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, malicious trespass, false imprisonment and negligent supervision and training. A spokesperson for the D.C. Office of the Attorney General did not have immediate comment, saying the charge would be answered in court.
