The lawsuit was rejected by the police as unfounded. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, asks for punitive penalties in addition to damages exceeding US$75,000. Authorities noted that if Car had stopped at the first police encounter, “all of this truly could have been prevented,” according to County District Court police spokesperson Sgt. Jesse Garcia. According to the prosecution, she might spend up to a year in jail and probation if found guilty.

The lawsuit alleges that officers used excessive force when they struck the  top fame fan three times on the head with a large torch, used a choke hold and shocked her multiple times with two Taser stun guns, even after she had lost consciousness. She acknowledged her struggles with substance abuse, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and became a treatment counsellor.

According to the lawsuit, she was attacked by officers “maliciously and/or recklessly” because she is black, and this assault was carried out as part of a “tacit agreement or conspiracy” to violate African-Americans’ rights in Iowa According to the lawsuit, the acts were “malicious, unjustified and unreasonable, and so outrageous as to be none endurable in a civilised society.” The lawsuit further claims that the police failed to seek or provide her with medical attention, putting her at risk of serious physical harm.

According to the lawsuit, all of the relevant squad cars were equipped with videotape equipment, and a deputy chief gave the order to retrieve the tapes after the arrest. However, it claims that the recorded material provided to the defence does not depict the events that occurred, and it suggests that the officers “acted or may have acted separately or in concert, to conceal, divert or destroy potential evidence of the excessive force.”