Allegations:
Miller, an African-American male, was driving a Budget rental car as a professional livery driver when he was called to pick up a customer in Greater Grand Crossings. Miller had arrived 10 minutes early when the customer called to cancel the trip. As he was about to leave the pick-up location, a police car with flashing lights pulled up behind him. Without reason or cause, one of the officers ordered Miller to exit his vehicle, show his driver's license and to empty his pockets. Miller complied with all of the requests. The officers proceeded to handcuff him and place him inside the police car. While detained inside the squad car, the officers searched the rental car without permission where they found his lunch and two pieces of aluminum foil containing salt and pepper. The officers informed Miller that he was being arrested for drug possession. One of the officers opened the foiled packages and sneezed. Even though they knew that the foiled packages only contained salt and pepper, the officers charged Miller with possession of a controlled substance. The rental car was towed and the $300 in cash that he had made for that day, as well as his handheld radio—were never returned. As a result of the officers' false reports, Miller spent 21 days in jail. The charges were later dismissed.