Three people tased by a Warrenton police officer filed a federal lawsuit Monday.
The lawsuit claims that Mark Oakley violated their rights, falsely arrested them and fabricated or omitted information in order to prosecute them.
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The State Bureau of Investigation started investigating Oakley in 2024 for claims of improper use of force. Since then, he has lost his job and was federally charged in relation to the incidents.
“Police officers have clear guidance as to when Taser use is permitted,” attorney Abraham Rubert-Schewel said in a news release. “But Officer Oakley blatantly disregarded that guidance when he tased Plaintiffs who were unarmed and presented no danger to the officer or to the public.”
Monday’s lawsuit claims that Oakley tased Shamayah Jones, Xavier Davis and Dwayne Hicks a total of eight times.
The lawsuit also lists the town of Warrenton and the police chief at the time, Goble Lane, as defendants, alongside Oakley.
“The Town and Chief Lane were aware of this pattern but nevertheless failed to take any corrective actions,” according to a news release from the drivers’ attorneys. “Rather than train, discipline or terminate Officer Oakley, the Town and Chief Lane worked to protect him from repercussion.”
The lawsuit claims other officers knew of Oakley’s reputation and one even refused to respond to calls with him.
In 2023, Oakley is accused of following Jones and her friend Ishmill Smith. The court documents say Oakley “approached [them] aggressively with his gun already drawn.”
The pair was putting air in the car tire. The documents say Oakley did not announce the reason for the traffic stop.
Oakley, according to court documents, tased Jones after giving her conflicting demands.
“’We’re not all like that. It’s just him. We’re going to get through this together,’” one Warrenton officer told Jones, after learning Oakley had tased her.
Smith was charged for speeding and resisting a public office at the time. He is also suing Oakley for false charges.
A few months prior, the lawsuit says Oakley followed Dwayne Hicks. It says the Oakley stopped Hicks twice within one night. WRAL obtained body camera video of both interactions.
The first time, he told Hicks that his headlights weren’t on, which Hicks disputed. Oakley, then took off Hicks’ license plate. After initially letting him go, Oakley pulled into Hicks’ driveway.
According to the lawsuit, Oakley did not announce the reasoning for the second stop.
Video of the second encounter between the two men shows Oakley use his Taser on Hicks after Hicks ignores repeated commands to put his hands behind his back. Oakley then used his taser on Hicks three times.
Hicks was charged with resisting a public officer and driving without displaying a registration plate. After review of the case, all charges were dismissed against Hicks.
In 2022, the lawsuit says Oakley tased Xavier Davis twice while he was in the back of Oakley’s patrol car and already handcuffed. The court documents say he tased Davis a third time when they arrived at the detention center. The lawsuit does not say why Davis was originally arrested.
The four plaintiffs claim the town and the former police chief were negligent and failed to properly supervise Oakley. They are asking for damages, attorney fees and a jury trial.