A man from Summit County, Ohio, has filed a lawsuit alleging a series of civil rights violations following an aggressive police stop that led to his unlawful detention and DNA collection. Elhadj Alpha Mahmoud Souare initiated the complaint on December 10, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against several officers from the Silver Lake and Ravenna Police Departments and the City of Silver Lake.
According to Souare’s account, on December 8, 2025, he was driving lawfully when Sergeant K. Sickels stopped him without activating any lights or providing a valid reason. The situation escalated rapidly as more than five police cars surrounded him after Sickels called for backup from Stow PD and Ravenna PD. Souare was informed that the stop was related to a rape allegation made by a white female from Ravenna, which specifically targeted him due to his ethnicity as a Fulani man from Guinea-Conakry. He asserts that this led to a racially biased investigation without prior notification or contact regarding any such allegations.
During the encounter, despite finding no weapons on Souare after frisking him, officers kept him handcuffed under claims of suspicious behavior due to cold weather conditions. Detective Keyes later arrived at the scene and indicated their intention to hold Souare until they could obtain a warrant for his DNA—a process which took 2-3 hours before being signed by Judge Curtin at Stow Municipal Court. Throughout this ordeal, Souare requested but was denied access to see the warrant and was coerced into providing his DNA under threat of contempt.
The lawsuit highlights systemic issues within the City of Silver Lake’s policies and customs that allegedly permit investigatory detentions without probable cause, racial profiling against Fulani immigrants/West African men, and DNA extraction before obtaining proper warrants. These practices have purportedly resulted in significant personal harm to Souare including humiliation, emotional distress, violation of bodily autonomy, seizure of his firearm, towing of his vehicle, and substantial economic losses estimated over $50 million.
Souare seeks compensatory damages ranging between $25 million and $50 million along with punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by law enforcement officers. Additionally, he requests injunctive relief against Judge Cynthia Curtin to prevent further unconstitutional actions like unauthorized DNA searches without notice or probable cause. His legal representation argues that these events reflect broader discriminatory practices within local law enforcement agencies requiring judicial intervention.
Representing Souare are attorneys whose names are not specified in the document; however, Honorable Judge John Adams presides over this case with Magistrate Judge Knapp assisting. The case is registered under Civil Case Number: 5:25-cv-02674-JRA.
Source: 525_cv02674_Souare_v_Sickels_Complaint_Nothern_District_Ohio.pdf
