Police Brutality In Lakeland (Polk County) FL

Hi, my name is Antwan Glover. I want to tell my story, the truth, about how the Lakeland Police Department used excessive force and sent me to the hospital during a simple traffic stop. My family has been in Lakeland, FL for many generations. I made this GofundMe because I want to bring awareness to the police who are terrorizing the community I love. I was hoping this could help me raise money for medical bills I have endured, medical bills for therapy for my stepdaughter who witnessed this traumatic event, lost wages (I lost my job because of this incident), and legal fees for a criminal and lawyer, as well as extra money for my five children with my youngest, being two years of age.

It all started on December 19, 2022. I was at my father's class reunion with my family. Once the class reunion ended I went to see my stepchildren at their mother's house around midnight upon arriving I put the car in park, and took off my seatbelt and that is when I noticed a SUV pull up to the driver's side. This took me by surprise as I did not know who it was or what was going on. That is when a white male in a uniform quickly exits the SUV while shining a flashlight in the window/my face. Upon further investigation, I now know who the officer was that approached my car, officer Mccain badge #189 (under investigation for similar situations). Officer Mccain approached my vehicle and demanded that I shut off the engine, to which I did comply.

At this point, the police still had not stated why they were not turning their red and blue lights on. Officer Mccain proceeded to demand that I shut off the vehicle, which I had already done so. Officer Mccain then asked if I had marijuana in the vehicle, and I responded: "yes sir I do." (I have my medical marijuana card issued by the state of Florida). Officer Mccain told me to get out of the vehicle, I asked the officer why he wanted me to get out of the vehicle, and Mccain then responded "Get out of the f****** vehicle!". At this point, I hadn't been asked to provide any identification. I am very confused at this time, as I had not been pulled over so this wasn't a routine traffic stop, and as I stated before they had not turned on their police lights. So as demanded, I proceeded to exit the vehicle and while doing so, I informed Officer Mccain that I have a medical marijuana license. Officer Mccain then slams the door shut and forcefully pins me up against the car. While pinning me Officer Mccain proceeds to tug on the satchel that I was wearing across my body and asked what I had inside of the satchel. Officer Mccain asked, "Do you have a pistol in it?". I responded, "No sir, I do not have a pistol, I do have my medical marijuana license". While Officer Mccain was tugging at my satchel, You don't have to pull my bag, I will give it to you." When I attempted to remove the bag from across my body, Officer Mccain yelled, "Stop resisting!", in that instance, I was slammed to the ground.

This is when I started to then be assaulted by Officer D. Cornn, badge #310, with knees and punches to my stomach and ribs. While laying on the asphalt, hands above my head, as seen in the video below. Officer Cornn continued his assault on me by punching me in the face several times and then the officers began to tase me.

They arrested the mother of my stepchildren and even one of my daughters after they both complied with what was being asked by the officers. The officers went onto the property of my stepchildren's mother and with unnecessary force, removed her from the yard in handcuffs (as seen in the video). She was not near them at the time and did not physically or verbally threaten any officers at the time. My daughter was released from the police station and was not taken inside. After the abuse, I was put in handcuffs and thrown in the back of the police vehicle. At this point, I witnessed an officer driving my vehicle away from the scene, which is not protocol, they are to call for a tow truck to remove my vehicle from the scene. If the police would have checked the tag, they would have noticed that the vehicle is connected to the address from which I was removed. This is another example of assault, as I had to spend money that was allocated for my family to get this vehicle out of impound.

This assault was completely out of line and unnecessary. I was in fear for my life and the life of my family. This incident has caused emotional trauma for me and my daughter who was recording the incident. She tells me that the night of the incident plays in her head and she has nightmares from this. The events of this night have also left me extremely anxious, emotional, angry, and scared.

My charges are as follows:

1. Resisting Arrest with Violence

2. Battery on an LEO (Law Enforcement Officer

I did not resist arrest in no way shape or form. I did not assault anyone. My medical Marijuana license allows me to have 2.5 ounces, which I had 1.5 ounces on me at the time, and the "paraphernalia" I had in my possession was a scale I use to measure my doses as prescribed.

One main factor in all of this is because of this assault, I have lost my job. Now I am not able to get the necessary things for my infant child and elderly grandmother. I am asking for justice for my community, my family, and myself. Please speak up if you have been involved in similar incidents involving the Lakeland Florida police department. I and my family did not deserve what happened to us.