A Longs area woman is suing the Conway Police Department and a city judge after they arrested her in 2022 for a crime she did not commit, according to the lawsuit.
Jamie Robinson filed the federal lawsuit against the city of Conway, Conway Police Chief Dale Long, officer Jacob Banas, Municipal Judge Kayla Dew Fleming and Municipal Prosecutor John Long. She alleges the group acted negligently and violated her fourth amendment rights.
Robinson alleges the city of Conway falsely imprisoned her by arresting her without evidence. She also said the other defendants violated her fourth amendment rights by falsely arresting and searching her.
Conway Spokesperson June Wood said the city does not comment on pending litigation.
Around July 19, 2022, Robinson was speaking to a man about purchasing items from him off Facebook Marketplace, she said in the lawsuit. After buying things from him, he offered to sell her other items. She initially said no, but they bargained and he lowered the price for her.
On July 22, while Robinson was at a property to pick up the items, a group of three strangers showed up and made her feel unsafe. Robinson left all the items and exited the premises, later telling the man she was no longer interested.
The man reacted in a “threatening manner” and Robinson did not feel comfortable returning, she said in the lawsuit.
Around Aug. 23, Robinson was at Walmart in North Myrtle Beach with her family when she got a notification from her security cameras. Multiple police officers had come to her home and Robinson did not know why. She called the non-emergency line and was informed she had a warrant out for her arrest from the Conway Police Department.
The Sun News requested any police reports and arrest warrants related to Robinson from Conway.
Robinson turned herself on Aug. 29 and was arrested for larceny. She was brought to J. Reuben Long Detention Center where she did not receive medications or treatments for her medical conditions, according to the court complaint. She had negative experiences with the detention officers and the cell she was placed in.
“J. Reuben Long was the worst experience of my life. No one should have to endure that, not even a guilty person,” Robinson wrote in the court complaint.
She was released and given an Oct. 5, 2022, court date. The lawsuit did not state how long she was in jail.
During the hearing, Robinson said she was not given a public defender and instead had to represent herself. After presenting the evidence, she was found not guilty.
Robinson tried to filed a complaint with the Conway Police Department over her arrest but was told the blame lies with the judge who signed the warrant.
The plaintiff is requesting a jury trial and unspecified damages to be determined by the courts.
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