Ex-Lauderhill police officer trial set for closing arguments Thursday

LAUDERHILL — An ex-Lauderhill police officer admitted Wednesday on the stand that he sometimes used a false name to identify himself on his cell phone and that he used permissible discretion while allowing the woman at the center of the case to drive away despite misdemeanor offenses.

Jamar Lee, the ex-officer, is accused of requesting sexual favors from Sierra Parrish in the early morning hours of Feb. 25, 2020, after encountering her in a drive-thru lane at a Dunkin Donuts in Lauderhill about 3 a.m. trying to access wi-fi. Parrish was 22 years old and homeless at the time and living in her car. Parrish and prosecutors claim Lee, after discovering the car’s registration was expired and Parrish’s drivers license was suspended, was willing to let her go free in exchange for sexual favors.

Lee said he didn’t pursue Parrish because she was only guilty of misdemeanors and was entering a different jurisdiction.

Among the central issues in the case are Lee using a false first name with Parrish, not activating his body camera during his interaction with Parrish and not telling dispatchers about their encounter. Prosecutors Justin McCormack and Lindsay Carrier told Judge Daniel Casey those actions show Lee was trying to keep the encounter secret.

Defense attorney Johnny McCray said Parrish is lying about the encounter with Lee because she wants money. Parrish admitted Tuesday that she’s looked into a $300,000 civil lawsuit against Lee and Lauderhill.

Lee testified he never made sexually suggestive comments to Parrish, never said he liked how she looked, never shined his flashlight up her dress and made a favorable comment while she was looking through the back of her car for her driver’s license, and never guided her hand to his crotch, all things Parrish testified happened when she took the stand Tuesday.

Lee said he planned to allow Parrish to leave her car with her mom instead of having it towed, and that’s why they were driving with him leading and her following.

Prosecutors presented a line of witnesses from the Lauderhill Police Department who testified Lee didn’t turn on his body camera during his interaction with Parrish and didn’t report his location to dispatch during his interaction with Parrish.

When asked whether he should have turned on his body camera, Lee said he doesn’t always use it.

“I stop and talk to people all the time,” Lee said.

Lee admitted he sometimes used the name “Justin” sometimes instead of his real first name when dealing with the public. He said he did that for protection for himself and his family. He said sometimes people seek revenge on officers or their family members.

Lee, who said Parrish gave him a long, sad story about having a fight with her boyfriend that night, being kicked out of her house by her mother, and being in dire straits financially, also said he didn’t want to leave a young woman alone at 3 a.m. so he chose to “escort” her to a location to leave her car.

Closing arguments are set for Thursday.