Dothan, ALA. – A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against two Dothan Police officers who were accused of violating the rights of an independent journalist during a confrontation at a state building in 2021.
The lawsuit, filed by George Metz, an “independent journalist/activist,” claimed that his Fourth Amendment rights were infringed upon when officers D. Bridges and J. Dodson handcuffed him and his partner while they were filming inside the lobby of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) in Dothan. The incident, which took place on October 20, 2021, sparked a legal battle that reached the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
On Tuesday, February 4, Chief United States District Judge Emily Marks officially dismissed the case, siding with the officers involved. The lawsuit had accused the officers of unlawfully detaining and searching Metz and his partner, after they had been asked multiple times to leave the building but refused. According to court documents, Metz and his colleague did not provide identification when asked, which led to their handcuffing and a search of their persons.
Despite the legal challenges, the officers were not arrested or charged, and the two men were released after nearly an hour of detention.
Originally, a judge in the U.S. District Court had ruled that the officers could be held liable for the actions taken during the incident. However, in a significant reversal, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in December 2024 that the officers would not be held liable, effectively overturning the earlier decision.
The case, which drew attention to the tension between police authority and journalistic freedoms, has raised questions about the boundaries of public access and the rights of citizens in government spaces. Legal experts have speculated that the decision could set a precedent in cases where law enforcement interacts with journalists or activists in public settings.
Metz and his legal team have not yet commented on the dismissal, but the case underscores the complexities surrounding First and Fourth Amendment rights in situations involving law enforcement and media access. The ruling could have implications for future confrontations between police and journalists in public spaces, especially when filming or documenting activities in government buildings.
