Listen to the article
Detroit Man Sues Officer for False Stalking Reports After Brief Relationship
A Detroit man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he spent more than three days in jail after a police officer allegedly abused her authority by filing false reports against him following the end of their brief relationship.
The lawsuit, filed on April 2 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, names Officer Shamar Woods-Carey and the city of Detroit as defendants. It alleges that Woods-Carey fabricated police reports and personal protection order paperwork that led to his wrongful arrest and prosecution.
Speaking anonymously to local media, the plaintiff described how he discovered the pending case during what should have been a routine traffic stop earlier this year.
“I was pulled over for speeding, and the officer came back to the car pretty quick, within three, four minutes, he’s like, ‘You got a warrant for your arrest,'” the man recounted.
According to court documents, he was subsequently charged in Wayne County with aggravated stalking as a habitual fourth offender based on allegations he claims Woods-Carey falsified, including claims that he had appeared at her residence unannounced.
The case proceeded to a preliminary examination on August 7 in Detroit’s 36th District Court before Judge Kenneth K. King. The lawsuit states that the case was dismissed without prejudice after his defense attorney pointed out that the complaining witness and the reporting officer listed in at least five separate reports appeared to be the same person.
The plaintiff maintains he had no contact with Woods-Carey at the time of his arrest, noting that their relationship had ended more than a year earlier. Though the lawsuit mentions that she had obtained personal protection orders against him, he claims these were never legally served.
“I was just taken back and shocked that a lot of police reports was made against me,” he said.
The lawsuit specifically alleges that Woods-Carey filed multiple reports while referring to the complainant in the third person, never disclosing that she was both the officer filing the report and the alleged victim. Court documents further claim she used both her maiden and married names as aliases across different reports.
Cameron Bell, an attorney with Oliver Bell Group representing the plaintiff, explained, “There were about five or maybe six reports that were generated by her where she was using her maiden name and her married name as aliases.”
When contacted by local media, Woods-Carey defended her actions, maintaining the stalking allegations were legitimate. “He was stalking me,” she stated. “He was my stalker.” She acknowledged being both the complainant and responding officer in the reports but claimed this didn’t violate department policy.
The lawsuit references court records showing Woods-Carey was charged in March 2025 with a misdemeanor count of unauthorized disclosure of information from the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN). She reportedly pleaded guilty on May 12, 2025, and received a six-month probation sentence.
A Detroit Police Department spokesperson declined to comment on the specific case, citing the city’s status as a defendant, but confirmed that Woods-Carey remains employed as a sergeant with the department.
The federal complaint alleges multiple constitutional violations under civil rights law, including Fourth Amendment claims of malicious prosecution and unreasonable seizure. It also asserts equal protection claims and alleges the city and police department failed to properly train and supervise employees.
The plaintiff is seeking more than $5 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages, attorney fees, and an injunction requiring the city to implement new policies to prevent similar situations.
The ordeal has left lasting psychological effects on the plaintiff. “Pretty scary where you lose sleep, I have to seek counseling just to live,” he said. “As long as I stay in the city of Detroit, I will be afraid.”
The case highlights concerns about potential abuse of police authority and raises questions about departmental oversight regarding conflicts of interest in police reporting.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
8 Comments
This is a very concerning report of potential police misconduct. If the officer did indeed fabricate evidence and charges, that would be a clear violation of the public’s trust. I hope the investigation uncovers the full facts and that appropriate actions are taken to address any wrongdoing.
The details in this case are quite disturbing. If the officer indeed fabricated evidence and charges, that’s a serious violation of the public’s trust. I’m curious to see how the legal proceedings unfold and what consequences may result.
This is a concerning report of potential police misconduct. Falsifying reports to get someone arrested is an egregious abuse of power that undermines public trust. I hope the investigation uncovers the full facts of the case.
It’s good to see the man taking legal action against the officer and city. Fabricating charges and causing someone to be wrongfully jailed is a serious matter that needs to be addressed. I’m curious to learn more about the details of the case.
This is a troubling situation that highlights the need for robust oversight and accountability measures within law enforcement. False accusations that lead to wrongful arrests cannot be tolerated. I hope the court case provides clarity and justice for the plaintiff.
This is a troubling case of potential abuse of power by the police officer. I hope the plaintiff can get justice and the truth comes to light. Falsifying reports to unjustly arrest someone is extremely concerning.
Wow, this sounds like a clear-cut case of retaliation and false accusations. The officer seems to have abused her authority for personal reasons, which is appalling. The man deserves compensation for the ordeal he went through.
It’s good to see the plaintiff taking legal action against the officer and city. Falsifying reports to unjustly arrest someone is a serious abuse of power that erodes public trust in law enforcement. I’ll be following this case closely to see how it unfolds.