Nicolas Fletcher

Update: The Fight Isn’t Over In January, I was arrested in my own driveway after returning from a short errand. Despite repeatedly identifying myself as the homeowner, I was ordered back into my vehicle at gun point and arrested. Nearly two dozen armed officers were present in under 5 mins. I was tased twice, pepper-balled, threatened with K-9 and struck while handcuffed as my family, friends, and neighbors watched helplessly. I spent 14 hours in jail and was charged with a felony resisting and obstructing a police officer stemming from an alleged failure to comply after supposedly rolling through a red light. I was later offered a misdemeanor plea, which I declined. Then, on July 10, something changed. Judge Quist dismissed the felony charge with prejudice. In his order, he found that my seizure—my arrest—was “inherently unreasonable” and a “violation of the Fourth Amendment.” For the first time in months, the weight of the charge lifted. No more bond restrictions. No more court reporting. No more random drug testing. No more wondering what would happen at the next hearing. I could breathe. But that relief was short-lived. The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office has now appealed Judge Quist’s dismissal. The appeal seeks to undo the ruling and return this case to the position it was in before the dismissal—reopening the uncertainty that had finally been lifted. Until the appeal is resolved, my record cannot be fully cleared, and the ongoing uncertainty continues to affect my career, livelihood, and family. I don’t pretend to know every reason behind the appeal. But I believe the public deserves to understand why a case dismissed after a judge found a constitutional violation should continue—and how this prosecution protects the innocent, strengthens the community, and serves justice. And I need your help. Your donations help cover the growing costs of appellate legal representation, trial preparation, and other expenses associated with protecting this ruling and pursuing justice. Every contribution—large or small—helps me continue this fight without abandoning my responsibilities. More than 160 people have already stood with me through donations, messages, prayers, and simply refusing to look away. If you believe constitutional rights matter, please stand with me now. Please donate and share: gofund.me/95916fde0 Every donation is more than financial support. It is a vote for accountability. Every share helps make sure this story is heard. Thank you for standing with me.

I believe in showing up for others. As a physician, I show up for my patients. As a father and partner, I show up to protect and nurture my family. As a son, brother, godfather, and homeowner, I show up and support my community every day, in ways both big and small. But everything changed on the evening of January 9th. After a short errand, I pulled into my driveway—only to be confronted by police lights. I stepped out of my car, confused, and calmly explained, “I live here,” three times. Instead, I was ordered back into my car and told I was under arrest. Within minutes, my yard was surrounded by a dozen police vehicles and nearly two dozen officers with guns drawn. I was tased twice, pepper-balled, and struck while handcuffed. My family, friends, and neighbors watched helplessly as I was taken away. No one told me why. I spent 14 hours in jail, charged with a felony—for questioning what was happening on my own property. The alleged crime? Rolling through a red light. Officers escalated the situation by falsely shouting “he’s reaching”—audio evidence exists, though it was omitted from police reports. Internal Affairs cleared the officers, and the prosecution offered a misdemeanor plea, signaling this was routine. Now, I am fighting for my name, my medical license, and my family’s well-being. The likelihood is high that this case will go to trial in late August or early September. Until then, my ability to work and provide is severely restricted. The cost of seeking justice is steep and ongoing. Your support directly funds the fight to clear my name and protect my family—covering legal fees, expert witnesses, mental health services, and trial preparation estimated at over $10,000.  Every donation is a vote for accountability and truth and helps build a record for oversight and justice. It preserves my ability to serve patients, supports my family through recovery, and challenges a system that too often sees citizens as threats. Thank you for standing with us in life & love.