Former State Trooper Accused Of Excessive Force Facing Another Lawsuit

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — WFTV has learned that a former state trooper already accused in one lawsuit of excessive force is facing a second lawsuit.
WFTV's Daralene Jones asked the Orange County Sheriff's Office why it hired Michael Harman despite the accusations.

A representative with the sheriff's office said it's unclear what they knew about the trooper's past before he was hired.

WFTV uncovered dash cam video that shows former state trooper Harman tackling Kim Brookins. He allegedly pulled her over for not using a turn signal.

Harman said he felt threatened when she walked toward her car, after she voluntarily gave up her driver's license.

Brookins is suing in federal court, alleging excessive force.

"That was an over-reaction. The woman was no match," said attorney Desiree Bannasch.

Since our report on Tuesday, WFTV uncovered Harman is now an Orange County deputy.

Personnel records show he resigned months after this incident, but he was also in the midst of a racial profiling investigation.

Bannasch wonders how he got the job, because she also has a federal lawsuit pending against Harman and the Florida Highway Patrol.

Harman arrested Bannasch's client, 50-year-old Melvin Scott for allegedly trafficking cocaine, just a few months before he arrested Kim Brookins.

When Scott pulled over, the trooper searched his car and found a box of baking soda under the seat. The trooper wrote in this report that it tested positive for cocaine.

"The same substance tested at the FDLE lab tested negative for drugs," said Bannasch.

Prosecutors dropped charges, but Scott had already spent eight months in jail because he couldn't afford the $50,000 bond

In Harman's three years with the sheriff's office, he's been under investigation 11 times for issues related to use of force, bad behavior toward suspects and violating investigative procedures.

But he's never been disciplined because he was exonerated in all cases.

"Is this someone who should be on the streets patrolling?" Jones asked Bannasch.

"I would be concerned about that. I would think his superiors at the Orange County Sheriff's Office would be concerned about that," said Bannasch.

A sheriff's office spokesperson said because of what we've uncovered they'll be looking to figure out what Harman knew about his past at the time he was hired - 17 February 2012.