MILWAUKEE — Claims of racial profiling and questionable detainment by Milwaukee police officers caused a judge to rule the civil rights of a state senator's son were violated.
I first spoke with State Senator Lena Taylor back in 2016, a month after the incident took place. Tonight she told me she had no other choice but to file a suit against the city after her concerns were not addressed by the prior mayor and police chief.
Tonight her son opened up about that cold December night.
Isaiah Taylor was 16 years old when he ran across Capitol Drive to deliver a frozen turkey to a neighbor for the holidays.
"It was definitely a surreal experience," recalls Isaiah Taylor.
TMJ4 News obtained police body camera from Taylor's lawyer capturing the moments after he was stopped and questioned by two Milwaukee police officers.
Even after discovering the frozen bird, Taylor was not allowed to leave the squad car. His mother, State Senator Lena Taylor, waited at home and had no idea what was going on just feet from her doorstep.
"As a mom, what hurt me the most was when my baby said 'mom, I was looking back. I was looking for you to look for me. Because I had been too long,'" said Sen.Taylor.
Fast forward 7 years and Isaiah is now a young adult serving in the military. The Taylors say they were forced to sue the department when their concerns went unanswered.
"There's been the ACLU lawsuit and so in looking at those things, it looks like we made progress. But I read the depositions of individuals who were the officers who have now been promoted, who are supervising. And I'm concerned," said Taylor.
Jan. 27 a district court judge ruled there was evidence that Isaiah's rights had been violated.
TMJ4's Shannon Sims sat down with Taylor's attorney Mark Thomsen.
"He [Judge] was very, very clear that once they knew what was a turkey, they had no right to detain him, arrest him, put him in the car, question him, even though they didn't handcuff, right, even though they were allegedly nice," said attorney Mark Thomsen. "Until my department, my city insists on training its officers to do the right thing, to act in a constitutional matter, we're going to continue to have unlawful stops."
Meanwhile, Isaiah is just thankful he made it back to his mother's arms and was able to move on from that night.
"I don't know another word for it, but vindicated - that at least somebody is rooting in my corner."
