Michael Lewis was working in a Prince George County neighborhood when a 10-year-old boy asked if Lewis could give him a ride home. When Lewis agreed, the boy got into Lewis’ truck.
Before Lewis could leave, a resident approached and yelled for the boy to get out of the truck and said he was calling 911. Lewis explained the circumstances and drove away, but the resident reported the incident to police.
The officer who responded never interviewed anyone before issuing an arrest warrant and publicizing the purported kidnap attempt, according to Lewis’ complaint. Lewis spent 41 days in jail before a prosecutor spoke with the young “victim,” verified Lewis’ account of the incident, and dropped the charges.
Lewis’ lawsuit against the officer was tossed out of court, but the Supreme Court of Virginia Thursday reinstated Lewis’ defamation claim, although it upheld dismissal of claims for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.
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