Nashville, Tennessee – A routine lunchtime walk turned into a traumatic experience for 39-year-old Sasha Palmer, a Black woman who was falsely detained by police, accused of fleeing a stolen truck she had no connection to.
The incident happened on November 15, 2023, when Palmer was nearly hit by a stolen vehicle involved in a police chase. Despite multiple officers confirming that she was a pedestrian and likely a victim, police wrongly detained her based on a tip from a random white man who claimed to be a witness.
Nearly Hit, Then Wrongfully Accused
Palmer, who works in the medical field, had been enjoying her daily lunch break walk when the driver of a stolen truck lost control during a police chase and drove onto the sidewalk, nearly hitting her.
Initially, Palmer believed the driver had suffered a medical emergency, but panic set in after she saw the driver – a Black man – fleeing from the scene with police in pursuit.
While police in a helicopter and officers monitoring surveillance cameras quickly determined that Palmer was not involved, one white bystander falsely identified her as someone exiting the truck.
Officers Ignored Warnings and Detained Her Anyway
Despite warnings over radio communications that Palmer was not the suspect, Sgt. Michael Swoner passed on the false claim, and Officer Holly Genualdi soon detained Palmer.
“I don’t know him,” Palmer protested through tears as she was handcuffed on the sidewalk. “This is so embarrassing.”
Officer Charles Agius later searched her purse without consent and found her legally owned handgun, which Palmer carried for protection during her walks.
Even as surveillance footage showed she had no connection to the stolen truck and had almost been hit, officers continued the detention until Swoner arrived and released her after 12 minutes, stating falsely:
“Everybody was telling us you got out of the truck.”
Internal Complaint Dismissed, Legal Action Filed
Palmer filed a formal complaint with internal affairs, but all officers were cleared of any wrongdoing. She has since filed a civil lawsuit, listing Swoner, Genualdi, and Agius as defendants, accusing them of:
- Illegal detention and search
- Violation of Second and Fourth Amendment rights
- False arrest
- Racial discrimination
Swoner has since retired, but the other officers remain employed.
Emotional Impact Still Deep
Palmer shared with local media that she no longer takes walks during lunch – a routine that had once helped her manage stress and grief after her uncle’s passing. Now, she is undergoing counselling for PTSD.
“I used to love walking outside. I would go every day. I don’t walk outside anymore,” she said in an interview with WTVF.