La’Nisha Hemingway, an 18-year-old African American from South Carolina, has secured a $250,000 settlement following a harrowing wrongful traffic stop by North Myrtle Beach police officers.
The incident, which occurred on May 3, left Hemingway grappling with anxiety, PTSD, and depression.
The encounter began when Officer Kayla Wallace stopped Hemingway, who was driving a dark gray Dodge Charger, mistaking it for a stolen silver Dodge Challenger with an entirely different license plate.
Bodycam footage revealed that Wallace quickly realized her mistake but, alongside Officer Mike Pacileo, detained Hemingway at gunpoint, handcuffed her, and conducted a vehicle search without verifying her registration.
Hemingway, en route to meet friends for a pre-graduation celebration, repeatedly questioned why she was being stopped and pleaded for officers to check her documents. Her requests to call her mother were denied, adding to the distressing ordeal.
A month later, Hemingway filed a federal lawsuit accusing the officers of false imprisonment, excessive force, and negligence.
While the lawsuit was resolved with a $250,000 settlement, no disciplinary actions were taken against the officers, who remain employed.
During a news conference, Hemingway described the lasting emotional toll of the encounter.
“The police officers around the world are supposed to be here to protect us, not cause harm or trauma,” she said. “The incident with the North Myrtle Beach Police Department ruined my life. I’m not the same anymore. Every night I’m up thinking about how my life could have been taken away.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about racial profiling and police accountability, sparking renewed calls for systemic reform.
