Sheriff Hit with $11M Lawsuit Over Excessive Force

According to the complaint, Rice accidentally bumped into Tinsley’s wife, April Tinsley, inside the store and apologized. She then allegedly left the store, informed her husband that Rice had groped her, and prompted the sheriff to take action. Without an investigation, Tinsley attempted to arrest Rice, slamming him into a concrete wall and knocking him unconscious. Rice’s girlfriend, Ashley Jackson, who tried to record the event, says April Tinsley grabbed her phone.

Law enforcement officers arriving at the scene reviewed surveillance footage, which reportedly confirmed Rice’s version of events. Despite this, Rice was arrested for sexual battery, while April Tinsley was briefly detained for theft but later released.

The Charges

Rice and Jackson filed a civil suit against both Tinsleys, alleging excessive force, assault, and battery. Sheriff Tinsley moved to dismiss the claims, arguing that he used only minimal force during the arrest. However, U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ruled against dismissal, finding that qualified immunity does not protect Tinsley in this instance.

In his ruling, Judge Boulee emphasized that Rice was already handcuffed and not resisting when he was "body slammed" to the ground. The judge stated, “On these facts, Sheriff Tinsley’s use of force was not necessary to the situation at hand.” Since the force allegedly used was excessive and violated Rice’s constitutional rights, Boulee determined that qualified immunity does not apply.

Potential Damages

The lawsuit seeks $11 million in damages, arguing that Tinsley’s actions caused Rice serious physical harm and emotional distress. In addition to the excessive force claim, Rice also alleges assault and battery.

The court found that official immunity—a legal protection for public officials against personal liability—would not apply if Rice can prove Tinsley acted with actual malice or intent to cause harm. Judge Boulee ruled that Rice has sufficiently alleged malice, stating, “The unexpected intent of [Rice’s] injury does not neutralize, let alone immunize, [Sheriff Tinsley’s] initial misconduct.”

What’s Next?

With the motion to dismiss denied, the case will proceed to trial unless the parties reach a settlement. If the allegations against Tinsley hold up in court, the sheriff could face significant personal liability.

Neither Rice’s attorneys nor Tinsley’s legal team have provided comments on the ruling.

Law Firms Involved

• Darius Rice and Ashley Jackson are represented by Harry M. Daniels of The Law Offices of Harry M. Daniels LLC.
• Sheriff Stephen Tinsley is represented by Richard Strickland and Emily R. Hancock of Brown Readdick Bumgartner Carter Strickland & Watkins LLP.
• April Tinsley is represented by Raleigh W. Rollins and H. Thomas Shaw of Alexander & Vann LLP.

The case is Rice et al. v. Tinsley et al., case number 1:24-cv-01477, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.