by Kandiss Edwards

January 8, 2026

City Of Decatur Appoints First Black Man Mayor

Powers is a longtime commissioner who has served on the city’s five-member governing body since 2015.

The City of Decatur commission leaders selected Tony Powers as mayor for 2026. He will be the city’s first Black male mayor.

The Decatur City Commission voted on the decision on Jan. 5. Powers is a longtime commissioner who has served on the city’s five-member governing body since 2015. He received the mayor’s gavel at a City Hall meeting attended by residents and city staff.

Commissioners also chose Lesa Fronk to serve as mayor pro tem, creating the first leadership team in Decatur with both a Black mayor and a Black mayor pro tem and majority Black City Commission, Atlanta News First reported. Speaking with reporters, Powers said that this selection was significant for the community.

“It is something that is truly monumental, and I am encouraged that you know we’re not just here to make history but here to make sure that we continue to do what’s right by our city,” he said.

The City Commission’s selection process differs from typical municipal elections in much of Georgia. Currently, residents elect commissioners, who then choose among themselves a mayor and mayor pro tem each year according to the city’s official website.

At the same time, city officials recently approved a change to the city charter that would allow Decatur voters to elect the mayor directly beginning in November 2027, replacing the current system of selection by commissioners, the WSB-TV report said.

Former Mayor Patti Garrett did not seek reelection this cycle. Though Garrett served a decade in the role, she voiced support for the charter revision. Garrett believes a four-year term chosen by voters could provide “more continuity of leadership.”

With the new leadership in place, Powers said his priorities include addressing affordability and helping residents experiencing homelessness in the metropolitan city.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 8, 2026

Wegmans Grocery Store Chain Admits To Collecting Customer Biometric Data

Wegmans is facing criticism after acknowledging that it collects customers’ biometric data at select locations across its chain of stores.

Grocery chain Wegmans is facing backlash after posting signs informing customers that their biometric data is being collected upon entry.

The popular grocery chain, with over 100 stores across nine states, confirmed it collects biometric data after a photo of a sign at a New York City location went viral, Fox News reports. The sign informed customers that “biometric identifier information” is being collected at that store.

“Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. collects, retains, converts, stores, or shares customers’ biometric identifier information, which may include: facial recognition, eye scans, and voiceprints,” the sign states.

🚨BIOMETRICS GRAB🚨

Wegmans supermarkets in New York City are now posting signs to notify shoppers that the chain collects biometric data, including facial recognition information, during visits to their stores.

Wegmans responded to my request for comment by saying, "The system… pic.twitter.com/Swulh3q0hh
— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) January 6, 2026

Wegmans stated that the biometric collection underscores how “the safety of our customers and employees is a top priority.”

“Like many retailers, we use cameras to help identify individuals who pose a risk to our people, customers, or operation. In a small fraction of our stores that exhibit an elevated risk, we have deployed cameras equipped with facial recognition technology,” the company said.

Wegmans says its facial recognition tool is used at only a few locations to identify individuals previously flagged for misconduct, and in New York City, the technology meets local regulations.

“Persons of interest are determined by our asset protection team based on incidents occurring on our property and on a case-by-case basis, by information from law enforcement for criminal or missing persons cases,” Wegmans said.

It also notes that data is not shared with any third parties.

“Facial recognition technology serves as one investigative lead for us. We never base our decisions on a single lead alone,” the statement concluded. “Our goal is simple — to keep our stores safe and secure.”

Facial recognition technology is highly visible in airports, but at some supermarkets, including Walmart and now Wegmans, the cameras are largely hidden from view, raising concerns about how customer data is being used.

“It’s kind of invading privacy. I could see that. It’s good and bad,” shopper Victor Cash said. “It could be like a little nuisance, but at the end of the day, I don’t think it’ll ever stop me from coming here.”

“You never know for what purpose the information is being collected,” Ivan Klimkou said. “I mean, I’m not shoplifting, so it’s no concern for me.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tips For Eating Clean On A Budget

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 8, 2026

The WellWithAll $1M Competition Pushes AI To Close Wellness Gaps In the Black Community

The competition extends WellWithAll’s commitment to reinvest 20% of its profits through the company’s foundation that funds resources and initiatives that assist in closing the nation's expanding wellness gaps.

Black-owned consumer packaged goods brand WellWithAll announced a new $1 million national competition designed to scale AI technologies aligned with helping underserved communities live healthier lives, according to a press release.

The $1 Million WellWithAll Prize Competition, dubbed “The Prize,” is scheduled to premiere at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 to upscale AI innovations that deliver accessible health support. Co-presented with AARP and sponsored by M&T Bank, The Prize challenges innovators to build AI-powered tools that provide early detection and deliver meaningful support for daily health management, enhanced health literacy, and deeper community trust.

Winners are required to demonstrate real-world adoption with at least 1,000 verified users, scalable engagement, and proof of behavioral improvements. In addition, participants have to have a pathway to reach roughly 100,000 people within the next three years.

The competition extends WellWithAll’s commitment to reinvest 20% of its profits through the company’s foundation, which funds resources and initiatives that help close the nation’s expanding wellness gaps. CEO and Co-founder Demond Martin labels AI as a prominent way to close those gaps, but with realistic goals. “AI has enormous potential to close health gaps, but only if it’s designed for the realities people face every day. From rural towns to city blocks, people are living shorter, sicker lives not because of a lack of will, but because access hasn’t kept pace–and that’s exactly what the $1M WellWithAll Prize is designed to change,” Martin said.

“This is the first AI innovation challenge designed from the ground up to deliver a measurable impact in underserved communities. We’re backing solutions that are ready to be used now, trusted, and measured by the impact they have on real lives.”

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In an interview with Rolling Out, Martin spoke about the Black community inspiring him to create the company, along with co-founder Carmichael Roberts, as he saw a need to close those gaps — but by providing the goods people love. “We thought that if we could build a model that’s an economic engine, with producing products that people truly love, and then just take a portion of those profits and use it to impact these societal issues that are impacting the world in such a tremendous way, that it could be a great sustaining financial model,” he said.

“That is gonna continue to grow, but help a lot of people, and not have to have our hands out asking for donations. The things that we consume, the things that we love, those are funding the societal needs that we truly have.”

The competition launches mid-March 2026, with applications being accepted through the summer. Prize money will be distributed to the finalists announced in late summer 2026, followed by the full competition at a live event in Boston in October. Winners will be selected by a panel of industry subject-matter experts from industries such as healthcare, technology, and consumer packaged goods.

Invited teams within the AI, digital health, and public health spaces that will leverage AI in an accessible and conversational form, in addition to showcasing products that have the capabilities of succeeding in low-bandwidth environments and the ability to meet people where they are, which is something most important to Martin and the WellWithAll team. “Health is a human right,” Martin continues.

“We’re here to make wellness feel possible in the form of healthier days and longer lives for more communities.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 8, 2026

Democrats Ban Together To Block Any Jan. 6 Rioter Compensation Funds At Taxpayers Expense

One settlement has already been established and funded by the Trump administration to the family of Ashli Babbitt, the riot participant who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as she smashed a window in an attempt to climb into the House Speaker's Lobby.

Five years after the world witnessed the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, Senate Democrats have introduced a new bill that would block taxpayer money from being used to financially reward convicted and some now-pardoned rioters, CBS News reports.

The “No Settlements for 5 January 6 Law Enforcement Assaulters Act,” sponsored by California Sen. Alex Padilla, who is also the vice-chair of the Senate Rules Committee, prohibits any compensation fund from being established for rioters. It also bans the usage of federal tax money to pay civil legal settlements against the Jan. 6 defendants who were convicted of assaulting police officers.

While President Donald Trump has pardoned some of the insurrectionists, Padilla says the bill, co-sponsored by Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, will “hold these rioters accountable and protect taxpayers by putting an end to Donald Trump’s callous attempt to rewrite history.” “These insurrectionists should still be serving their sentences and paying fines for damages they caused to the Capitol — not receiving refunds or cash rewards from the Trump Administration,” Padilla said in a statement.

While Jan. 6 rioters have showcased support for the idea of a reparations fund to reimburse the criminal defendants for the cost of their legal expenses, prosecutions, and expenses, Whitehouse calls the pardons “a slap in the face” and will fight for the officers who risked their lives that day, despite how MAGA loyalists tried to spin the narrative. “No matter how Trump’s MAGA goons now try to twist it, the January 6 attack on our Capitol was an assault on our democracy,” the senator said.

“Trump’s blanket day-one pardons for members of the January 6 mob were a slap in the face to the brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the country.”

One settlement has already been established and funded by the Trump administration for the family of Ashli Babbitt, the riot participant who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer as she smashed a window in an attempt to climb into the House Speaker’s Lobby. The U.S. Department of Justice approved the estimated $5 million settlement in May 2025.

One attorney, Mark McCloskey, who labels himself a champion for “the cause of J6 compensation,” spoke out on social media as word of the bill started to float and the country was reminded of the fifth anniversary. He says he will do all he can to make sure funds are created. “To all the J6 political prisoners out there– I’m doing everything I can to expedite the establishment of a claims resolution procedure so we can get you back on your feet and get you some real justice,” he wrote on X.

“ I won’t stop fighting, and I will never back down.”

To all the J6 political prisoners out there- I'm doing everything I can to epidite the establishment of a claims resolution procedure so we can get you back on your feet and get you some real justice. I won't stop fighting and I will never back down.
— Mark McCloskey (@mccloskeyusa) August 4, 2025

Padilla and Whitehouse aren’t the only ones pushing Jan. 6 legislation. In New York, Democratic State Sen. John Liu and Assembly Member Charles Lavine introduced a bill that, if passed, would make it mandatory for public schools to teach about the history-making incident and the chaos that followed.

According to Fox 5 NY, Lavine said there are Republican counterparts that agree with them but claim they “are not allowed” to put their names on the legislation. “We saw what happened that day. Even the people who will be against the bill, some would like to support it…but many of them fully approve of what occurred on that day,” Lavine said, calling those leaders “tragic.”

“And that’s why we need to make sure our children are taught the truth.”

Diddy, delay, trial, judge Prison, Sean combs

by Kandiss Edwards

January 7, 2026

Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems! Diddy’s Employees Say They Haven’t Been Paid, Allegedly

Diddy is allegedly having trouble paying his bills behind bars.

Several employees and attorneys connected to Sean “Diddy” Combs say they have not been paid while the disgraced music mogul is incarcerated. Comb’s representatives dispute the claims.

According to TMZ, employees of Combs claim payroll payments were delayed or withheld while he was in federal custody. The mounting frustration among staff has yielded at least one reported resignation. TMZ cited unnamed employees and attorneys who said a third-party business management firm is overseeing financial decisions during Diddy’s incarceration.

Tri Star Sports & Entertainment is reportedly managing Combs’s finances. Invoices for Diddy’s expenses are submitted, reviewed, and approved by Tri Star. The outlet said some payments were not approved, contributing to some employees being unpaid. Additionally, rumors claim that even Combs’s family members must submit expense requests for review by the firm.

A representative for Combs denied the claims. Juda Engelmayer says that the producer is still at the helm of his operation and all employees are being properly compensated.

“People, personnel, and attorneys are all being paid, and no one is leaving.” Engelmayer added, “Sean Combs controls his own finances. Everyone gets paid for their work once it’s completed and confirmed, after routine review.”

https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2008683815317762411

Combs was sentenced in October 2025 to 50 months in federal prison following his conviction on two Mann Act counts related to transportation for prostitution. He was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges in the same case.

Combs began serving his sentence shortly after the verdict and remains in federal custody while several civil lawsuits against him continue to move through the courts.

No court filings or statements from federal prosecutors addressing the payroll allegations have been made public. Tri Star Sports & Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment from outlets covering the dispute. The claims regarding unpaid staff have not been independently confirmed beyond TMZ’s reporting.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 7, 2026

Ice-T’s NJ Dispensary ‘The Medicine Woman’ Closes Less Than A Year After Opening

The store opened in Jersey City in April 2025

After a successful grand opening in Jersey City last April, the Medicine Woman dispensary, co-owned by Newark, N.J. native Tracey “Ice-T” Marrow, has closed.

According to Northjersey.com, the “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” regular, was a partner in the business with Charis Burrett, who has a flagship location for The Medicine Woman in Bellflower, California. The Jersey City location was being planned for three years after New Jersey changed its laws to allow marijuana to be sold legally in the state.

No reason was given for the closure, but it follows a pattern of celebrities who own dispensaries going out of business quickly.

The news comes after Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon had to cease operations at his Newark store, Hashstoria, in 2025, after it had been open for less than a year. When Hashtoria was in its planning stages, it promised to be an adult-use cannabis retail space, with plans to expand into a larger community hub. They wanted to expand the venue into a premier consumption lounge and a wellness center to improve the community’s health, education, and empowerment.

The Medicine Woman was not situated in a great location, as it sat along the side of the Route 1 and 9 highway on Tonelle Ave. HeadyNJ reported that there are additional dispensaries along the same route, including Green Stop Wellness and Kush Klub, which appeared before them.

The closing of The Medicine Woman gave Ice-T a little more room to pursue other entrepreneurial ventures, as he recently mentioned he would not be seen as often this season of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He has been on the television show for over 20 years and is not at risk of losing his position.

In a sitdown with TMZ, the “New Jack City” actor said his reduced time was strictly for business reasons. The show’s executives wanted to bring back an old character, Amanda Rollins (played by Kelli Giddish), who had been on the show for over 10 years. She was written off three years ago but returned this season. It came down to budget: keeping Giddish on regularly and moving Ice-T to part-time for the season.

He stated that he didn’t mind, as it gave him a chance to pursue other opportunities when he was not working on the show. Now, he may have extra time to find his next business venture.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 7, 2026

Detroit Man Given $1M After 25 Years For Wrongful Conviction Must Return Money

The man must return the money after receiving a settlement over the same crime in a civil suit.

An exonerated man who was jailed for 25 years in a Michigan prison may repay the $1 million given to him for the wrongful conviction.

Desmond Ricks spent a quarter-century in prison for the 1993 murder of Gerry Bennett, for which he was later absolved. Upon his exoneration, Ricks was offered more than $1 million under Michigan’s Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act, which was initially passed in 2017.

According to Yahoo Finance, he received around $50,000 for each year spent incarcerated. The monetary allotment sought to recognize the toll of the wrongful conviction. However, it still does not compare to the years lost behind bars. His lawyer, Wolf Muller, emphasized the suffering his client endured while in prison, stating that the compensation could never fully heal the trauma.

Desmond Ricks endured the worst harm and suffering you can imagine,” his lawyer, Wolf Muller, told WXYZ Detroit. “25 years in a cage for a crime he didn’t commit. The compensation under the state, a million and a quarter, doesn’t come close to the harm he suffered.”

However, Ricks has now been ordered to return the money in a new court ruling regarding the damages he received in a civil suit. The Michigan Court of Appeals made the ruling after Ricks received a payout from a separate case regarding the murder.

Ricks won a $7.5 million settlement with the City of Detroit over alleged police misconduct in the murder investigation. He claimed that Detroit officers switched bullet evidence in an effort to frame him for the killing. New evidence unveiled by the Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School reopened the case in 2016.

Ricks’ second chance at freedom came after the discovery that bullets recovered from Bennett did not match the gun prosecutors claimed as the murder weapon. He subsequently became eligible for pay due to the Compensation Act. However, the law also stipulates that exonerees must pay back the money if they receive damages from a third party.

Deemed a clawback, this process is typically used outside criminal justice cases. However, the process is currently being applied to Rick’s situation. Given this, he cannot receive funds from both a civil settlement and a state payout. Some state lawmakers say the clawback provision is intended to ensure the fund has enough to cover compensation for all exonerees.

On the other hand, criminal justice advocates say this provision undermines the real financial difficulties faced by those recovering from wrongful convictions. Furthermore, conflating state compensation with private settlements further demeans what the unjust prison sentences have done to innocent lives.

Although Ricks actually obtained funding from the Compensation Act, payouts remain relatively scarce for exonorees. Despite most states allowing compensation for overturned convictions, less than half of these victims, 42% according to data from the Death Penalty Information Center, see any money. These factors even bleed into racial disparities within the criminal justice system. The Center confirmed 60% of all exonerees also identify as black.

by Ahsan Washington

January 7, 2026

Black Fitness Influencers Who Will Whip You Into Shape For 2026

These fitness influencers don't just give you a sweat

Black fitness influencers are transforming the online health and wellness landscape. They’re discussing everything from workouts to self-care. These experts are true to themselves and bring their culture of well-being to the table so that others might benefit. These fitness influencers don’t just give you a sweat; they also motivate you to keep up achieving your fitness goals, believing in yourself, and finding balance that works toward success. Take these eight fitness influencers, for example: each represents the crème de la crème of online fitness from trainers to coaches who are doing their thing.

Keaira LaShae

Keaira LaShae is a singer, dancer, and now a trainer. She co-founded the platform If You Can MOVE. LaShae has been making dance fitness videos for over 10 years. Social media followers love her content on YouTube and her own app. LaShae is all about helping to get folks moving with workout routines that range from dance-based to high-intensity interval training to kickboxing and mobility exercises. LaShae makes working out feel like a party. The choreographed routines are easy to follow and make you want to keep coming for more. Check her out if you’re looking for a way to make fitness feel less like a chore.

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Shaun T

Shaun T is a big deal in the fitness industry and the trainer behind popular programs like Hip-Hop Abs. Since 2009, Shaun T has been a household name that everyone knows. After 16 years, Shaun T remains active and passionate about helping his audience get into shape. He’s all about pushing clients to their limits with cardio, strength training, and drills that parallel athlete workouts. If you want a workout that’s going to challenge you and get results, follow Shaun T. His energy is infectious, and his programs work.

Brittne “Brittne Babe” Jackson

Brittne “Brittne Babe” Jackson is a known name in the fitness world. Jackson has been around for a while, churning out home workout challenges and programs that focus on glutes and legs. Brittne Babe started posting workouts in the early 2010s. What sets Brittne Babe apart is her ability to craft workouts viewers can do from home without needing a ton of equipment. The trainer is about getting the best return on your workout. Followers rave about Jackson’s sessions that can be done anywhere, anytime.

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Jessamyn Stanley

Jessamyn Stanley is a yoga teacher who advocates for body positivity. She co-founded The Underbelly, a streaming yoga platform that is inclusive of all body types. Stanley has been spreading the word about yoga since the mid-2010s. Her approach to yoga is about making it accessible to everyone, regardless of their shape or size. She’s big on self-acceptance, which is refreshing. For those looking for a yoga instructor who will meet you where you are without judgment, Jessamyn is the person. Plus, The Underbelly classes are on demand, so you can follow along whenever you want.

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Koya Webb

Koya Webb is a yoga teacher, author, and the founder of Get Loved Up, a mindfulness community focused on nurturing the mind, body, and soul. For over 10 years, Webb has been sharing her passion with others through teachings and retreats. Webb blends yoga, breathing exercises, healthy eating, and living a rounded life to create optimum health and fitness outcomes. Her style is soothing and pushes trainees to grow.

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Simeon Panda

Simeon Panda, a globally recognized physique athlete and strength coach, has been building his following since the early 2010s on social media. Panda’s expertise lies in hypertrophy and strength, particularly in the “classic bodybuilding” approach. Panda is a fitness influencer who offers form tutorials and comprehensive programs to help followers achieve their fitness goals. A no-nonsense approach to lifting guidance and an emphasis on long-term consistency make Panda a popular choice for those seeking to improve their physique.

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Jeanette Jenkins

Jeanette Jenkins is a recognized name in the fitness influencer world. Jenkins has been active for over three decades. As the founder of The Hollywood Trainer Club, Jenkins made a name for herself by offering gym sessions that cater to all kinds of workouts. Want to try HIIT, Pilates, or yoga? Jenkins has you covered. The website features a collection of over 1,200 videos with coaching that’s easy to follow, no matter what your fitness level. Jenkins is a great resource for people who genuinely want to get in shape, and she has been around long enough to know what works.

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Massy Arias

Massy Arias is a Dominican-American health coach and trainer who made a name for herself through her approach to fitness influence. Arias creates programs that focus on mobility, which is a unique approach. What sets her apart, though, is the community she’s built, The MA Warriors. The health coach has been active online since around the mid-2010s, and by 2019, she had gained a following of around two million people. Arias is an expert in strength, mobility, postpartum fitness, and even community challenges. Those who follow her guidance can expect an approach to working out that focuses on form. Followers gain access to a community and educational resources that are accessible. Her programs are designed to deliver results and are focused on being achievable and sustainable.

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daycare, Lil Wills Family Childcare Center, Tammi Cooper, childcare

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 7, 2026

Black-Owned Charlotte Daycare Goes Viral For ‘Highly-Rated’ In-Home Childcare Experience

A Charlotte, North Carolina, childcare center has gone viral after a TikTok tour showcased its thoughtfully designed in-home daycare experience.

A Black-owned childcare center in Charlotte, North Carolina, is winning hearts online thanks to its thoughtfully designed, in-home daycare experience created specifically for its little learners.

Whitney, the owner’s daughter, helped the family daycare go viral after sharing a TikTok tour of her mom, Tammi Cooper, and her growing Lil Wills Family Childcare Center. In the three-minute video, viewers get a look inside the intentionally designed spaces Cooper created in her home for the children, which Whitney describes as one of Charlotte’s “highly rated” in-home daycares.

“This is Miss Tammi, and I’m not biased or anything, but you won’t find another provider more passionate than this woman right here,” Whitney says at the start of the video.

@the_whitneyc They did a phenomenal job getting this together! She will be helping me revamp this Summer #childcare #inhomedaycare #charlottenc #daycare #daycareprovider ♬ MINI VLOG. – ALOHI STYLE

The video then showcases the daycare’s welcoming foyer, complete with a shoe drop, sign-in station, birthday board, and parent information wall. From there, viewers are taken into the Gross Motor Room—a dedicated free-play space that Whitney says is perfect for rainy days.

“There’s a lot for the kids to do, as you can see,” Whitney explains. “She got this cute little claw machine. She says she’s going to use it as like a fun Friday treat. Probably put some suckers in there. Listen, there is no sad beige in this daycare.”

The video also highlights the thoughtful touches Cooper added to make the daycare extra special, including cubbies for extra clothes, musical stepping stones for arrivals, and a small bookshelf with movable seating pads where kids can sit and rest their feet.

Whitney was especially excited to show off the daycare’s newest feature, the Pig Pen Diner—a play kitchen Cooper designed so kids can create their own menus for pretend customers.

“It is so nice. Look at the little fake windows,” Whitney says. “All the kids will have little uniforms when they come over here in this area. There’s like a little hours of operation with the clock. You got fresh fruit and vegetables available. And then there’s some seating. So, so cute. This is her quote-unquote employee wall. And the kids have little jobs at the restaurant.”

Other clips highlight the thoughtful design Cooper added to the bathroom, house stairs, and learning area—which even features a tank of hermit crabs named after Tammi and her husband.

“Miss Tammi was very intentional about everything in here,” Whitney shared.

With a look at the thoughtful design and layout, it’s no surprise enrollment at Lil Wills is full, leaving parents to join a waiting list for a chance to secure a spot for their child. Many who watched the TikTok tour sang the daycare’s praises, with a few playful jokes thrown in.

“Does she accept adults?” one user jokingly asked.

Lil Wills Family Childcare is planning to expand into a larger, full-service facility to welcome more children and help the family-run operation grow. In a SpotFund campaign seeking $100,000 to “Help Lil Wills Grow,” Whitney shared her mom’s lifelong passion for childcare, which began in 1986 when she was 18 and pregnant with Whitney. Over the years, that passion continued to inspire her children, daughter Whitney and son Richard, who joined the family business as an in-home daycare owner and daycare chef.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 7, 2026

Ex-NJ Cop Sues City Over Claims Of Reverse Racism Following Excessive Force Indictment

Spencer Finch also has another case that has yet to go to trial.

A former Paterson, New Jersey, police officer has filed a major lawsuit against the city and local officials, arguing he was wrongfully fired over excessive-force charges he was later acquitted of, while another case against him is still pending.

Spencer Finch, 44, filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 22 against the City of Paterson, Mayor Andre Sayegh, the police department, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and several current and former law enforcement officials, NJ.com reports.

In the complaint, Finch claims reverse discrimination, civil rights violations, and malicious prosecution, arguing he never should have been charged after being indicted and later acquitted on excessive-force counts, only to be indicted again on the aforementioned separate charges.

The lawsuit stems from Finch’s 2021 criminal case, the first in Paterson built largely on police body-camera footage. Video showed Finch, a white officer, repeatedly hitting a Black man, Brandon Cosby, with a flashlight in an apartment hallway and kneeing him in the face while he was handcuffed.

Prosecutors said Finch used excessive force after responding to a domestic dispute. Finch claimed Cosby was trying to break down his ex-girlfriend’s door, resisted arrest, and attacked him. Finch added that his partner failed to help.

Finch was fired from the Paterson Police Department later that year by the mayor, even though a jury acquitted him of related charges in December 2023. He still faces a separate case tied to a 2018 incident in which prosecutors say he used excessive force during a robbery investigation at a deli. Finch was indicted on official misconduct in January 2023. That case has not yet gone to trial.

Now, Finch is suing on claims that prosecutors misused New Jersey’s Bail Reform Act to keep him jailed for a week. He also accuses Sayegh of politicizing the case, which violated his civil rights, during the 2022 mayoral race. The lawsuit also calls out former Paterson police Lt. Louis Spagnola, now head of the department’s wellness unit, who allegedly worked with prosecutors to improperly sway the investigation and get officials to give false testimony at Finch’s first trial.

Finch alleges multiple constitutional violations, as well as malicious prosecution, false arrest, false imprisonment, abuse of process, destruction of evidence, civil conspiracy, and emotional distress. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages, lost wages and benefits, attorney’s fees, and damages for physical and psychological harm.