Texas sheriff's office found liable for violating thousands of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights

A federal jury on Monday found Bexar County, Texas, liable for systematically violating thousands of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights over several years through its criminal interdiction unit. The ruling underscores that the Constitution requires searches to be reasonable and prohibits dragnet policing.

The unit employed a five-step process that began with a nationwide network of AI-powered license plate readers. These cameras would alert local law enforcement to any travel deemed abnormal, prompting deputies to conduct pretextual traffic stops. According to the lawsuit filed by the Institute for Justice, if drivers refused to consent to a search, officers would allegedly use a K-9 alert, sometimes from a manipulated dog, to establish probable cause.

Alek Schott, a driver from Texas, was stopped on March 16, 2022, by Deputy Joel Babb for allegedly drifting lanes. What began as a traffic stop evolved into an hourlong interrogation about Schott's travel and personal life. Deputy Babb admitted the stop was not about a traffic violation but rather to look for smuggling activities. Schott refused a vehicle search, but a K-9 unit was called, and the dog alerted. Despite the alert, officers found nothing during a 40-minute search of his truck. Schott's dashcam footage later indicated he had not drifted lanes. He filed a complaint, but the agency reportedly suggested he file a lawsuit, which he did.