Amara Harris, a recent graduate of Spelman College, has filed a $20 million civil rights lawsuit against the city of Naperville, Illinois, following a four-year legal ordeal that began with allegations of stealing a pair of AirPods.
In 2019, while a junior at Naperville High School, Harris lost her AirPods and later found a pair on a table in a common area. Assuming they were hers, she took them. However, when informed that the serial number matched another student’s AirPods, Harris immediately turned them in to the school dean. Despite her prompt action, Harris was ticketed by a Naperville Police officer two weeks later, accused of theft, and fined $100. Harris refused to pay, maintaining her innocence.
This incident led to a prolonged legal battle that culminated in August 2023, when Harris was exonerated. The court ruled that she had not stolen the AirPods and dismissed the fine.
Harris is now seeking justice through a civil rights lawsuit, accusing the Naperville Police Department of systemic issues, including the improper issuance of tickets for minor infractions and disproportionate targeting of students of color. According to NBC News, the lawsuit highlights the emotional and psychological toll the accusations and ensuing legal process took on Harris.
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“It was just very hard because I was in school with the accusation,” Harris said. “It was a shocking surprise to me that took a really huge toll on my mental state. I was angry. I was sad. I felt that I was targeted.”
Harris’ mother, Marla Baker, detailed the profound impact on her daughter, who went from being an outgoing cheerleader to someone who now struggles with trust and social interaction. “I try to hold my tears back because I know she’s fighting through depression, and she’s fighting through anxiety. She is building up trust for people again,” Baker said. “She is persevering through all of those things right now and she is getting back to that big personality, that big smile.”
The lawsuit names two members of the Naperville Police Department: Juan Leon, the officer who issued the initial ticket, and Sgt. Jonathan W. Pope, his supervisor. Harris’ legal battle required her to attend nearly 50 hearings and frequently travel between Naperville and Atlanta, where Spelman College is located.
Harris’ case sheds light on broader concerns about the treatment of students of color and the actions of law enforcement within school environments. As she seeks $20 million in damages, her lawsuit aims to address these systemic issues and prevent similar injustices in the future.