All Incidents

Incident

Date	Feb 12, 2015
Department	Petersburg Police
Officers	Brian Lee Billings
Address	Petersburg, VA

Incident Description

“After Billings asked [Cromartie] to roll down her car window, she told him to leave her alone as she complained to someone on her cellphone about the traffic stop,” Lavoie reported. “Seconds later, she said, he pulled her out of her car, forced her onto the ground and placed his weight on her back, injuring her forehead, lip, teeth, right eyebrow and both knees before she was handcuffed and put in leg shackles.”

Billings was allowed to resign and admitted he was never disciplined for the incident.

Links

"Virginia jury awards $300k to Black woman injured by officer"
A Black woman who was forced face-down onto the pavement during a traffic stop has been awarded $300,000 by a jury in Virginia after she sued the officer for excessive force and false arrest. The case began in 2015, when then-54-year-old Monica Cromartie was stopped for speeding. Cromartie says she told Petersburg Officer Brian Lee Billings to leave her alone. She says he then pulled her out of her car, forced her onto the ground and placed his weight on her back, causing numerous injuries. - WFRX-TV
Cromartie v. Billings
Supreme Court of Virginia Decisions (Justia US Law)
"Black Woman Left With Scars and a Missing Tooth Following Police Stop Awarded $300,000"
Billings is no longer a member of the police force, retiring several months after the incident took place. In court testimony, he admitted that he was never disciplined for his actions in the case. - Diversity Inc.
"Virginia jury awards $300k to Black woman injured by officer"
AP News
"Va. Supreme Court rules Petersburg police officer is not immune"
The case stemmed from the Feb. 12, 2015, traffic stop of Monica L. Cromartie. The then-54-year-old, 4-foot-9-inch, 100-pound partially disabled woman was grabbed by Billings, pulled from her car and forced face down onto the ground. - Richmond Times-Dispatch