Man files $10 million lawsuit against Michigan State Police for alleged drug planting conspiracy

DETROIT (FOX 2) – An alleged drug planting conspiracy resulted in a man filing a $10 million lawsuit against the Michigan State Police (MSP).

The man, Dakarai Larriett, accused two MSP troops of violating his rights and conspiring to plant drugs on him during a traffic stop in Benton Harbor on April 10.

“For a black man, you say the wrong thing in a situation like that and you’re dead,” Larriett told FOX 2.

He said the footage showed the troopers conspired to plant the drugs the night of his traffic stop.

Larriett said an officer accused him of smelling like something fruity, then gave him a 30-minute sobriety test, even though he said he was sober. He was then immediately taken to a medical clinic where he said he tested negative for all alcohol, but was taken to jail anyway.

Larriett said police in jail went even further, claiming he had a bag of drugs hidden inside himself.

“That looks like a bag of drugs, confess now, or you’ll also face a human trafficking charge,” Larriett told police. “And they kept scanning my body.”

Larriett said he had to use the bathroom publicly to prove it.

“I’ve never even been arrested,” he said. “I am a business executive who has worked for Whirlpool for three years, located in Benton Harbor. I know nothing about this world. I have never even been in a prison before. I was stunned all night.”

When he was released, the drunk driving charges were dropped. Months later, Larriett discovered the images of the alleged drug planting conspiracy and an alleged social media page for one of the MSP troopers.

“He’s homophobic, he’s transphobic. He’s racist. He is misogynistic,” Larriett said. “I don’t know why this man is in the force.”

Both MSP troopers are still working as of Oct. 29.

State police sent a statement saying:

The troopers involved have one month to respond to the lawsuit.