A routine return home for a federal judge turned into a controversial police detention that is now the subject of a federal civil rights lawsuit, according to court filings and witness accounts.
On a quiet Tuesday afternoon, Judge Patricia Williams, 52, was detained and handcuffed by a local police officer after pulling into the driveway of her own home in an upscale suburban neighborhood. The incident, which was captured on a police dashboard camera and witnessed by multiple neighbors, has raised serious questions about racial profiling, use of police authority, and failure to verify basic identification.
According to the transcript of the encounter, Officer William Thompson, an eight-year veteran of the police force, approached Judge Williams’ black Mercedes moments after she parked. He informed her that the vehicle matched the description of a stolen car and demanded that she step out of the vehicle. Judge Williams calmly explained that the car belonged to her and that she was at her own residence, requesting that the officer verify her identification before escalating the situation.
Despite her cooperation, Officer Thompson told her she was being detained for vehicle theft and resisting arrest, placed her in handcuffs, and seated her in the back of his patrol car. Judge Williams repeatedly identified herself as a federal judge and asked the officer to check her credentials, which were located in her purse inside the vehicle and in a briefcase beside the car containing court documents.
Witnesses say those requests were ignored.
“She never raised her voice. She was calm the entire time,” said Eleanor Davis, a neighbor who watched the arrest unfold and began recording after contacting her husband, a retired attorney. “It was obvious something was very wrong.”
Another neighbor, James Mitchell, attempted to intervene, telling Officer Thompson that the woman being detained was Judge Williams, whom he recognized from a previous court appearance involving his brother. Mitchell says the officer ordered him to step back and threatened arrest for interfering with a police investigation.
Officer Thompson radioed for backup, reportedly stating that he had arrested a vehicle theft suspect who was “claiming to be a federal judge.” Two additional patrol cars arrived, drawing more residents outside as Judge Williams remained handcuffed in the patrol car for nearly 20 minutes.
One of the responding officers, Officer Sarah Martinez, reportedly questioned the basis for the arrest after hearing Thompson’s account, which witnesses and later legal filings describe as inconsistent and lacking specific details about any stolen vehicle report.
Judge Williams, who has served on the federal bench after a distinguished career as a prosecutor and civil litigator, has presided over numerous cases involving police misconduct and civil rights violations. Sources close to her say the emotional impact of experiencing such an encounter firsthand has been profound.
Legal experts reviewing the incident say the officer’s stated reasons for arrest—vehicle theft and resisting arrest—could become central issues in the lawsuit, particularly given Judge Williams’ compliance and repeated requests for verification.
The police department has declined to comment on the pending litigation but confirmed that the incident is under internal review. Officer Thompson’s personnel file, according to attorneys involved in the case, allegedly contains prior complaints involving stops of Black motorists.
Judge Williams has not given a public statement, but court documents describe the incident as a “clear violation of constitutional protections” and an example of how assumptions can escalate into unlawful detention.
The case is expected to draw national attention as it proceeds, with civil rights advocates calling it a stark reminder that status, education, and authority do not shield individuals from discriminatory policing.
“This wasn’t just about one judge,” said one legal analyst. “It’s about how easily power can be misused—and how important accountability is when it is.”
