Nationwide — Dakarai Larriett, a former executive at Whirlpool, has filed a federal lawsuit against the Michigan State Police, accusing officers of discriminatory racial profiling, homophobia, and egregious civil rights violations stemming from an alleged traffic stop in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, outlines a series of devastating events that occurred during the April 10, 2024, encounter, which Larriett claims resulted in unlawful detention, false charges, and long-lasting personal and professional harm.According to the lawsuit, Larriett, who was driving his late-model Cadillac in Benton Harbor while dropping a friend off at home, was stopped by State Trooper George Michael Kanyuh and State Trooper Matthew Okaiye for allegedly failing to obey a traffic signal. Despite Larriett’s assurance that he complied with the law, the officers escalated the stop, accusing him of driving under the influence, even though Larriett passed all field sobriety tests administered at the scene.
Larriett, who had neither consumed alcohol nor drugs, was forcibly detained for more than eight hours and subjected to degrading treatment at the hands of the officers. The lawsuit details how, after multiple sobriety tests yielded negative results, the officers arrested Larriett without probable cause. In a shocking abuse of power, the officers allegedly fabricated a story to plant narcotics in Larriett’s car and subjected him to further invasive and humiliating searches while in custody. “They accused me of smuggling drugs, despite clear evidence from an X-ray machine that what they thought were drugs was simply gas. They even forced me to defecate in front of them, determined to find something to justify their actions,” Larriett explained. “It was dehumanizing.”
Larriett was charged with operating under the influence of a controlled substance (OUID), a charge that was later dropped due to lack of evidence. However, the wrongful arrest caused significant damage to his personal life and career, including the confiscation of his driver’s license, which severely hindered his ability to travel for work.
The lawsuit also highlights the officers’ homophobic remarks and actions during the arrest, including derogatory comments about Larriett’s sexual orientation, which intensified the abuse he experienced. After his release, the officers further harassed Larriett through inflammatory and racist online comments.
“When I was in that jail, I realized I was not the only innocent person being mistreated. This
injustice cannot continue. I am heartbroken for those still suffering because they can’t afford to hire an attorney to fight back. This must stop now. Larriett said.
Civil Rights Attorney Shawndrica Simmons, representing Larriett, is calling for justice and systemic reforms to address this alarming pattern of racial profiling, harassment, and abuse of power within law enforcement. “This case is about more than just one individual,” Simmons stated. “It’s about holding the Michigan State Police accountable for their actions and sending a clear message that racial discrimination and homophobia have no place in our society. The abuse Dakarai Larriett endured must never happen again.”
Attorney Simmons states, “This case is a chilling example of the kind of systemic racial and homophobic profiling that continues to plague law enforcement. Mr. Larriett’s life was turned upside down simply because of his identity. We are pursuing this lawsuit to hold the Michigan State Police accountable and to fight for justice not just for Mr. Larriett, but for all individuals who have been subjected to this kind of abusive and unlawful treatment.”
For press inquiries, contact Gwen Thomas at 609-474-4877 or presscoordinator@gwenthomaspr.com