Baltimore, MD – A federal jury has awarded $5.2 million to a Baltimore Police Department captain after a six-year legal battle stemming from an incident that occurred outside a local strip club. The case involved an on-duty officer and an off-duty officer in what became a complex saga of charges, trials, and internal investigations.
In August 2018, the initial conflict arose when then-Sergeant Henrietta Middleton found herself embroiled in a physical altercation while off-duty at Norma Jean’s strip club on The Block, a well-known nightlife area. The altercation escalated when on-duty officer Marlon Koushall intervened. Middleton was initially charged with assaulting Koushall. However, these charges were subsequently dropped after video footage from a bystander revealed Koushall striking Middleton in the face and throwing her to the ground by her hair.
The video evidence led to a significant shift in the legal proceedings, with the State’s Attorney’s Office indicting Koushall for second-degree assault. He was convicted in a bench trial in October 2019. Despite his conviction, Koushall remains employed with the police department, an outcome that has stirred controversy and debate over the accountability mechanisms within the force.
Middleton, who has since been promoted to captain and serves in the Northern District, initiated a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in 2020, which culminated in a jury verdict in her favor last month. Her attorney, Latoya A. Francis-Williams, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing that the case was as much about acknowledging Middleton’s humanity and the violation of her dignity as it was about the financial compensation for her suffering and ill-treatment.
Koushall has consistently claimed that he was merely defending himself, asserting that Middleton was the initial aggressor. However, his actions during the incident led to an internal charge of failing to follow the law, a charge that came only after his criminal conviction. In addition to his conviction, Koushall faced internal scrutiny but managed to maintain his job status after a use-of-force review concluded his actions were reasonable given the circumstances. The incident was reviewed as having demanded immediate action without the opportunity for de-escalation techniques, a conclusion not universally accepted.
In light of his conviction, Koushall was initially slated for termination from the department. However, he requested a sentence modification which Judge Lynn Stewart Mays granted, changing his sentence to probation before judgment just days before his potential firing. Following this adjustment, the charges no longer appear in online court records, allowing Koushall to retain his position.
Meanwhile, Middleton’s career has prosperously advanced as she was promoted twice since the incident. Despite her promotions, Middleton aims to return to the internal affairs division, a testament, according to her attorney, to her resilience and dedication to police work.
The Baltimore Police Department, embroiled in this high-profile legal battle, now faces a substantial payout that will be borne by the city’s taxpayers, spotlighting issues of police conduct and the financial consequences of law enforcement actions on public resources.
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