Racine Sun

The case of Deandre R. McCollum is scheduled to go to trial next month stemming from his 2018 arrest where a Racine County Sheriff’s Office deputy used a police dog and Taser to take him into custody following a traffic stop encounter.

McCollum has also filed a federal lawsuit against Deputy Edward Drewitz and Racine County that is still pending.

The Journal Times reports that body camera footage shows the Racine County officer interacting with McCollum, who at some point runs from the scene. In the suit that was formally filed in March 2021, McCollum alleges that Drewitz violated his Fourth Amendment rights and used excessive force in the interaction.

While county officials are denying all allegations of unfair treatment on the part of officers, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling went as far as to write a letter to The Journal Times.

“I have complete faith in our community and our court system that when all facts are presented and thoroughly reviewed, the court will conclude the quick and brave actions taken by Deputy Drewitz and K-9 was well within his training and experience and completely an appropriate use of force to stop a very dangerous and resistive suspect,” Schmaling wrote. 

At the same time, groups like Racine Women for Racial Justice argue that the treatment McCollum allegedly received is far too common for people of color in the area.

“It is about the Deandre McCollums: African-American men in Racine County who face excessive use of force when they encounter law enforcement, in particular Racine County Sheriff’s Department,” Kelly Scroggins-Powell, the group’s executive director, told The Journal Times. Scroggins-Powell adds she was heartbroken, but not surprised by the incident, adding the encounter illustrates a larger issue involving police and people of color.

As part of his suit, McCollum is seeking damages for physical pain, emotional pain, punitive damages and attorney fees in an amount to be determined by a jury in all three cases. Attorneys for him claim that Drewitz allowed his K-9 partner to repeatedly bite him on the legs, shoulder and arm even after he was handcuffed and on the ground.

“I had to watch a person, a human being, lay on the ground, handcuffed, begging and pleading with a sworn officer whose job it is to protect and serve … to call the dog off,” Scroggins-Powell said of the body camera video. “I watched him scream in pain as the dog tore into his leg.”

McCollum ended up pleading guilty to two felonies, possession of marijuana and fleeing police, and spending two years in prison. Drewitz’s attorney, Jacob Sosnay, has now filed a motion to dismiss all of McCollum’s claims.

Beyond McCollum’s suit, Scroggins-Powell is now demanding more accountability on the part of the department, including a review of all department policy, practices, procedures and training.  

“We need to look at those, and we need to admit we have policies and practices and procedures in place that give our law enforcement officers carte blanche to treat human beings this way over non-violent crimes,” Scroggins-Powell said. “It needs to change, and our stakeholders need to be held responsible for that change.”