DETROIT (WXYZ) — A federal lawsuit has been brought against the Detroit Police Department and the City of Detroit by two protesters. One of the protesters says she was shot at by a DPD officer with a rubber bullet during a recent protest in the city.
RELATED: Tear gas deployed, protesters face off with police in downtown Detroit
The lawsuit claims that plaintiffs, Nadia Rohr and Baylee Huffman, were participating in anti-police brutality protests in Detroit on May 31 when Rohr was struck in the head by an apparent rubber bullet.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday. Detroit police formed a police line in front of a group of protesters who were non-threatening, the lawsuit says.
Rohr alleges in the lawsuit that while standing near officers, she made eye contact with an unnamed officer before turning her head. After that, she was struck by an object believed to be a rubber bullet fired by the unnamed officer.
RELATED: 84 arrested during Saturday night's protest in Detroit – 2 were from other states
The damage from the rubber bullet caused a fractured skill, which exposed the brain, the lawsuit says. The plaintiff began bleeding and was fading in and out of consciousness as a result of the incident.
The lawsuit also claims that when other protesters, including plaintiff Baylee Huffman, came to the aid of Rohr, the unnamed Detroit officer did not assist the injured protester.
Protesters carried Rohr to a car where she was taken to Henry Ford Hospital and diagnosed with two skull fractures, a concussion and a subdural hematoma, the lawsuit says.
As a result of the incident, the lawsuit claims that Rohr now struggles with daily pain and memory loss and will require extensive therapy during recovery.
Nadia Rohr and Baylee Huffman v. City of Detroit, Et Al by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
