Nationwide — Andrea “Dre” Hollingsworth, an African American woman from Las Vegas, Nevada, who is deaf, won a $1.2 million settlement after a Nevada police officer violently pulled her from her car in front of her two daughters. The officer handcuffed her for allegedly “not following orders,” even though she could not hear him.
The incident happened in April 2021, after police received a call accusing Hollingsworth of stalking. Her daughters told officers they were only trying to collect $200 in rent from the caller. Despite this, Officer Michael Rose demanded Hollingsworth follow his orders, refusing to let her communicate through writing or sign language while wearing a mask during the pandemic.
According to Atlanta Black Star, body camera footage shows Hollingsworth repeatedly trying to explain she could not hear, pointing to her ears. Rose ignored her and forced her to the ground, pressing a knee into her back while handcuffing her.
Her daughters cried as the officer barked orders and told them to “talk some sense” into their mother because she’s “not listening.”
Hollingsworth, 40, filed a federal lawsuit claiming Rose and the police department violated her Fourth and 14th Amendment rights as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act. The suit detailed how the officer’s refusal to accommodate her deafness caused both physical and emotional harm, while traumatizing her children. She was released with no charges.
Last week, Hollingsworth won a $1.2 million settlement. The agreement also requires the police department to provide mandatory training on interacting with deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals. The city now contracts ASL interpreters for situations requiring effective communication.