Police refute shopper’s claim of racial bias
The Troy Police Department is defending its officers after an attorney threatened a lawsuit claiming racial discrimination over his client’s treatment for a declined credit card at Somerset Collection shopping center.
Attorney Stephen Lovell says his client, Charvelle Carter of Lathrup Village, was attempting to make a $2,500 purchase at the Louis Vuitton store at Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Road, on April 6.
After the card was declined, Lovell says Carter was “presumed guilty” because she is Black.
“I don’t have any other explanation for how she was treated. I’ve had cards declined before,” Lovell said. “She was treated like a criminal by Louis Vuitton employees, by the security guard and by the Troy police.”
Troy police said mall security contacted them because the Louis Vuitton transaction system indicated the card was stolen. Police said in a statement that they “strongly denounce any assertion that the actions taken by our officers were based on race.”
Lovell said Carter was on the phone, attempting to straighten out the transaction issue, when officers arrived. He alleged that they refused to speak to bank representatives, as Carter suggested, and grabbed the card out of Carter’s hand.
Lovell has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Troy police to obtain the officers’ body cam video and other evidence. He expected to file a lawsuit on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, against the store, the mall and Troy police.
Here is the full statement from Troy police, issued Tuesday, April 13:
“On April 6, 2021 at approximately 6:37 p.m., Somerset Collection Security requested that Troy Police respond to the Louis Vuitton store at 2801 W Big Beaver Rd. The store manager of the Louis Vuitton store advised that a customer’s credit card had been declined and their computer system advised the card was stolen.
“Troy police officers responded to the store and made contact with the female customer. Based on the information received from the store officers began an investigation and attempted to determine the actual status of the credit card. Store employees reported the point of sale technology indicated the card was stolen.
“As part of the immediate investigation Officers made contact with Mastercard and also the bank the card was issued through, but were unable to confirm if the card was valid.
“Ultimately officers on scene were unable to establish if a crime had been committed. The credit card was collected as evidence until it could be properly verified. The female customer was provided an incident number, police contact information, and released.
“The customer was never placed under arrest, or furthermore handcuffed at any time. She was asked to remain at the store while officers were on scene conducting the investigation.
She was also asked repeatedly to assist officers in verifying the validity of the card and she repeatedly refused.
“The Troy Police Department responds to each call for service we receive in a professional manner. If a business in our community calls to report a crime we have a duty to respond and investigate.
“We are proud of the service we provide the community and strongly denounce any assertion that the actions taken by our officers were based on race.
“Police administration was first alerted of this complaint by this media outlet (Fox 2 Detroit) at 7:00 p.m.. No complaint was filed with our department as of writing. The official police report is complete, Troy Police Department #21-9332. We encourage any interested party to complete a FOIA request for further information.”