Protesters rally over police brutality allegations, Lakeland PD rejects claims

LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) — Kieanna Garrett said she took pictures of her face in late December 2023 after her arrest at a traffic light.

They show a cut next to her eye and bruises.

“I’m OK physically but emotionally I’m drained. I’m stressed,” she said. “I’m not scared to speak out because I want justice served. This has to stop.”

Garrett said she was with her boyfriend, Phillip Lightsey, in the car at a red light when two officers walked up with their guns drawn.

In her arrest affidavit, those officers allege the vehicle had attempted to evade police when they approached the car.

Garrett claims she was driving.

The affidavit alleges Lightsey was driving and after the officers approached the vehicle, he got into the backseat and Garrett went to the driver’s seat.

An officer used a flashlight to shatter the driver’s window and eventually, Officer Dillon Cornn removed Garrett from the car, accusing her of not complying with orders, according to the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, which was written by Officer Cornn, Garrett was handcuffed after a “brief struggle.”

Garrett told News Channel 8 she was shoved against both their car and the cruiser and then kicked to the ground by Officer Cornn.

“I’m already handcuffed so what was the purpose of all that? Then he got down on one knee and punched me in the eye here, which is never going away. I had two black eyes,” said Garrett.

Lakeland Police officials are rejecting the allegations.

“Based on evidence gathered, the defendant’s fabricated claims are an attempt to use media attention to avoid responsibility for their actions,” wrote a department spokesperson in a statement.

Officials tell News Channel 8 Garrett was examined for a “single small scrape.”

“Had the defendant experienced the injuries claimed today, she would have required transport to a medical facility for treatment,” wrote the spokesperson.

Officer Cornn was cleared of any wrongdoing in an internal administrative investigation launched after Garrett filed a complaint.

Garrett was arrested on several charges including resisting an officer without violence and possession of cannabis.

She was arrested again the next day, on Dec. 21, 2023, after a search warrant was executed at her apartment by officers, including Officer Cornn.

An affidavit shows police found 346.3 grams of cannabis, 2.3 grams adderall and drug paraphernalia.

“I don’t sell drugs. I don’t use drugs. Only drugs I dealt with were when I was passing them out to my patients at work,” said Garrett, who added she has worked as a nurse but lost her job because of these legal troubles.

Garrett was in court Tuesday for a status conference.

Outside, approximately a dozen protestors from the Tampa Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (TAARPR) rallied in support of Garrett.

“We’re here to demand that the charges against her be dropped,” said Vicky Tong with TAARPR. “We are also here to demand that the cops involved such as Dillon Cornn be fired and charged.”

“Brutality by the police, Lakeland police. It’s their MO,” said Pastor Clayton Cowart, with the Poor & Minority Justice Association.

Pastor Cowart points out that Officer Cornn was also involved in the arrest of Antwan Glover , who was seen on cell phone video being punched and tased by Lakeland police in December 2022.

Prosecutors dropped the charges against Glover in May.

“This is a wild animal on the loose and no one seems to want to tame him,” said Pastor Cowart, referring to Officer Cornn. “This is a matter of morals as well as police training.”

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