{"id":22132,"date":"2026-07-30T16:06:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:06:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22132"},"modified":"2026-07-30T16:06:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T11:06:56","slug":"afroman-sues-ohio-police-officer-following-defamation-jury-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=22132","title":{"rendered":"Afroman Sues Ohio Police Officer Following Defamation Jury Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/afroman-sues-ohio-police-officer.jpg?quality=80\" \/><\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-id=\"1614682\" data-title=\"Afroman Sues Ohio Police Officer After Winning Defamation Lawsuit\" data-url=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/07\/afroman-sues-ohio-police-officer-lawsuit-malicious-prosecution\/\" data-page=\"1\" data-pages=\"1\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/artist\/afroman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Afroman<\/a> has sued one of the Ohio police officers who raided his home in August 2022, just over four months after <a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/03\/afroman-wins-lawsuit-sheriffs-deputies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">winning a major jury verdict<\/a> against them. The rapper filed the lawsuit against former deputy Brian K. Newland in the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County, Ohio, on Monday, July 27th.<\/p>\n<p>Newland is one of seven officers\u00a0who <a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2023\/03\/afroman-sued-by-officers-who-raided-his-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sued Afroman for defamation<\/a> and invasion of privacy after he used home security footage in music videos mocking them for the failed raid. In a victory for freedom of speech, an Ohio jury found Afroman not liable for any of the claims filed against him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vivid-seats.pxf.io\/c\/1882189\/952533\/12730?subId1=afroman%2Aohio-police-officer-lawsuit-button&amp;subId2=&amp;subId3=&amp;sharedid=&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fafroman-tickets%2Fperformer%2F8931\" class=\"button button-ticket\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Get Afroman Tickets Here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>In Afroman\u2019s complaint (via\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/afroman-sues-ohio-police-officer-failed-defamation-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><em>Billboard<\/em><\/a>), he alleges Newland\u2019s defamation lawsuit was \u201cmalicious prosecution\u201d that \u201clacked legal merit\u201d and was meant only to \u201charass\u201d him. It is currently unknown why Afroman is targeting Newland rather than all seven officers involved in the original suit. He did, however, release a song called \u201cBrian Newland Is a Flag\u201d a few months ago, accusing the officer of having \u201csex with a minor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Related Video<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlaintiff suffered emotional distress, anxiety and reputational harm as a result of defendant\u2019s frivolous lawsuit,\u201d the legal filing reads. \u201cDefendant\u2019s conduct in filing and prosecuting the frivolous lawsuit was willful, wanton and malicious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Afroman is seeking a minimum of $25,000 in legal bills and other expenses that he attributes to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m suing the police officer who stole my $400, then had the audacity to sue me for 1,500,000 dollars,\u201d the 52-year-old artist wrote in an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DbVQEW0CpWp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Instagram statement<\/a>, adding that the lawsuit was a \u201cbirthday present\u201d to himself.<\/p>\n<p>Ohio county sheriff\u2019s deputies conducted an armed raid on Afroman\u2019s property in August 2022\u00a0on unfounded suspicions of drug trafficking and kidnapping. Though they seized $5,031 in cash and other property, no wrongdoing was found, and no charges were ever filed.<\/p>\n<p>In retaliation, Afroman utilized\u00a0his own surveillance camera footage to release several music videos aimed at the officers, including one called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9xxK5yyecRo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\u201cLemon Pound Cake.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Newland and six others (Shawn D. Cooley, Justin Cooley, Michael D. Estep, Shawn S. Grooms, Lisa Phillips, and Randolph L. Walters, Jr.) filed a lawsuit in 2023, claiming they suffered \u201cemotional distress, embarrassment, ridicule, loss of reputation, and humiliation\u201d as a result of the videos.<\/p>\n<p>During the trial, Afroman stated\u00a0he had a First Amendment right to mock the officers, saying, \u201cAll of this is their fault, and they have the audacity to sue me.\u201d The jury cleared him of all charges after just hours of deliberation.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, the \u201cBecause I Got High\u201d rapper celebrated his legal victory by releasing a new album,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/04\/afroman-new-album-freedom-of-speech-tour-dates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Freedom of Speech<\/em><\/a>, which fittingly dropped on April 20th.<\/p>\n<p>He is currently on a US tour in support of the album through early December. Get tickets via <a style=\"display: inline !important;\" href=\"https:\/\/vivid-seats.pxf.io\/c\/1882189\/952533\/12730?subId1=afroman&amp;subId2=ohio-police-officer-lawsuit&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fafroman-tickets%2Fperformer%2F8931\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Vivid Seats<\/a>, where new customers can use promo code <strong>CONSEQUENCE20<\/strong> to receive $20 off their first order of $200 or more. The Vivid Seats Rewards program also offers members a free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DbVQEW0CpWp\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BRIAN NEWLAND IS A FLAG\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/m1iXh7jxjfc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Afroman - Lemon Pound Cake (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9xxK5yyecRo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Afroman 2026 Tour Dates:<\/strong><br \/>08\/03 \u2014 Paducah, KY @ Carson Center for the Performing Arts<br \/>08\/03 \u2014 Jonesboro, AR @ Brickhouse Bar &amp; Grill<br \/>08\/04 \u2014 Texarkana, AR @ The Wild hare<br \/>08\/05 \u2014 Tyler, TX @ Bricks Bar &amp; Grill<br \/>08\/06 \u2014 Austin, TX @ Pershing Hall<br \/>08\/07 \u2014 Fort Worth, TX @ Tannahill\u2019s Music Hall &amp; Lounge<br \/>08\/08 \u2014 Fort Worth, TX @ The Echo Lounge &amp; Music Hall<br \/>08\/09 \u2014 Houston, TX @ House of Blues<br \/>08\/10 \u2014 Ardmore, OK @ Station Sports Bar &amp; Grill<br \/>08\/10 \u2014 Duncan, OK @ Kochendorger Brewing<br \/>08\/11 \u2014 Newton, KS @ Moxie Community Pub<br \/>08\/12 \u2014 Norfolk, NE @ District Event Center<br \/>08\/15 \u2014 Janesville, WI @ TBA<br \/>08\/21 \u2014 Upper Sandusky, OH @ Route 30 Rodeo @ Wyandot County Fairgrounds<br \/>08\/22 \u2014 Raleigh, NC @ The Yard at Bowstring<br \/>08\/28 \u2014 Boonsboro, MD @ The Hall<br \/>08\/29 \u2014 Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Casino<br \/>09\/05 \u2014 Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom<br \/>09\/06 \u2014 Louisville, KY @ East Tennessee Distillery<br \/>09\/11 \u2014 Westchester Township, OH @ Lori\u2019s Roadhouse<br \/>09\/18 \u2014 Davenport, IA @ Capitol Theatre<br \/>09\/19 \u2014 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest<br \/>10\/01 \u2014 Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom<br \/>10\/02 \u2014 Paw Paw, MI @ Warner Vineyards<br \/>10\/03 \u2014 Wyandotte, MI @ District 142<br \/>10\/10 \u2014 Lorain, OH @ Lorain Palace Theater<br \/>10\/17 \u2014 Wyandotte, MI @ The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia<br \/>10\/30 \u2014 Orlando, FL @ The Vanguard<br \/>11\/04 \u2014 Philadelphia, PA @ TBA<br \/>12\/04 \u2014 Fontana, CA @ TBA<br \/>12\/05 \u2014 Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;\n\t\tn.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=1;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,\n\t\tdocument,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '1753966171496536');\n\t\tfbq('set','agent','tmgoogletagmanager', '1753966171496536');\n\t\tfbq('track', \"PageView\");\n\t<\/script><script defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&#038;version=v7.0&#038;appId=434175690014\" nonce=\"6gwmbCtM\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Afroman has sued one of the Ohio police officers who raided his home in August 2022, just over four months after winning a major jury verdict against them. The rapper filed the lawsuit against former deputy Brian K. Newland in the Court of Common Pleas in Adams County, Ohio, on Monday, July 27th. Newland is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/consequence.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/afroman-sues-ohio-police-officer.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=22132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22132\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/22133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=22132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=22132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=22132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}