Barnwell v. Leeds, City of, Alabama

On September 25, 2025, in Leeds, Alabama, a traffic stop of Marcus Barnwell, a 35-year-old African American man, turned deadly. Officers alleged a broken taillight, but the encounter rapidly escalated. Barnwell was forcibly pulled from his car, tased, and placed in a chokehold, leading to his death from asphyxiation. Partial body-worn camera footage captured the struggle. Barnwell’s estate sued the City of Leeds and Officers T. Reynolds and K. Morris under Section 1983, alleging excessive force, wrongful death, and failure to train. The complaint highlighted that the City’s use-of-force policy was outdated and that officers had not received de-escalation training. The defense argued Barnwell resisted arrest. The incident prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into the Leeds Police Department. The trial, which began in January 2026, featured testimony from use-of-force experts and emotional statements from Barnwell’s family. The case drew national attention from advocacy groups. Closing arguments concluded in early February 2026. The jury was tasked with determining whether the officers’ actions were objectively unreasonable. A decision was anticipated to have broader implications for police reform in the region.

On February 20, 2026, a federal jury found the City of Leeds and Officer Taylor Reynolds liable for violating Barnwell’s civil rights. The jury awarded $4.2 million in compensatory damages and $1.5 million in punitive damages. Qualified immunity was denied for Reynolds. The city later entered a consent decree with the Department of Justice mandating reformed use-of-force policies and training.

Whether the officers used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment; whether the City of Leeds maintained a custom of failing to train and supervise officers, thereby causing the constitutional deprivation; and whether qualified immunity shielded the officers from liability.

The verdict sparked widespread protests in Leeds and Birmingham, accelerating the creation of a civilian oversight board for the Leeds Police Department. It prompted the Alabama state legislature to pass a bill banning chokeholds and requiring de-escalation training. Nationally, the case became a rallying point for advocates seeking to limit qualified immunity and strengthen municipal accountability for police misconduct.