TULSA, Okla. — A legal battle is underway in Tulsa as Henry Jamerson, who spent 24 years behind bars for a 1991 rape conviction that was recently overturned, is suing local law enforcement and judicial authorities over alleged civil rights violations and misconduct. The lawsuit, filed on April 14, accuses Tulsa police officers past and present, along with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office, of hiding critical evidence for decades.
Having been convicted in 1991, Jamerson was released from prison in 2015 and has since been working diligently to clear his name. His efforts bore fruit last summer when a judge vacated the rape conviction. Despite this, Jamerson continues his pursuit of justice, seeking to remove his name from the sex offender registry, with recent court appearances in November.
The case against Jamerson was fraught with controversy from the start. In a revealing turn of events at a recent hearing, the original accuser, Kayleen Dubbs, testified that she was coerced by police into naming Jamerson as the assailant. Now older, Dubbs has expressed remorse and supports Jamerson’s fight for justice. "Looking back, I can see all the wrongs that were done," Dubbs said. "I’m sticking by him until this is fully resolved."
Dan Smolen, Jamerson’s attorney, highlighted the egregious errors in the handling of evidence which formed the basis of the lawsuit. Smolen’s persistence led to a pivotal court approval to search the police department’s property room, where he discovered DNA evidence pivotal to Jamerson’s exoneration, concealed in a gun locker.
The lawsuit also details several other questionable actions by authorities, including the sketching of a suspect composite by a Tulsa Police Department (TPD) detective based on a photo of Jamerson rather than an eyewitness description, and the issuance of an arrest warrant without a supporting probable cause affidavit. These points underscore the broader accusations of systemic misconduct.
Adding to the controversial case, the Tulsa County District Attorney is currently appealing the decision to overturn Jamerson’s conviction. Meanwhile, a TPD spokesperson has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, citing department policy on pending cases.
This case not only raises significant questions about the integrity of local law enforcement practices but also underscores the long battle for exoneration that wrongfully convicted individuals often face.
The unfolding lawsuit in Tulsa serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining judicial integrity and the devastating impact of its breach on individuals and their families. As developments continue, the public’s understanding of the systemic flaws exposed by Jamerson’s case grows, prompting calls for justice and accountability.
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