Furman Honick Law has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland against Baltimore City and three Baltimore Police Department officers, alleging false arrest, unlawful detention, and malicious prosecution.
Allen Honick and Dustin Furman represent a Baltimore attorney who was charged with 13 criminal offenses — including multiple felonies — based on an allegation that was later withdrawn under oath. The charges were ultimately dismissed in full. But by then, the damage to his liberty, livelihood, and reputation had already been done.
This lawsuit seeks accountability for what the complaint alleges was a prosecution built on a false statement and sustained long after probable cause collapsed.
Felony Charges Based on a Recanted Allegation
The case arises from a February 2023 incident at a home in Baltimore’s Bolton Hill neighborhood. During a late-night encounter, an officer claimed the attorney pointed a firearm at police. That allegation formed the basis of an arrest warrant and 13 criminal charges.
According to the complaint filed by Furman Honick Law, that claim was false.
Months later, in court, the officer withdrew the allegation under oath. A judge found there was no imminent threat and no evidence that the attorney had pointed a gun at anyone. The charges were dismissed in their entirety.
The lawsuit alleges that the client was holding only his cellphone.
Despite the recantation, the arrest warrant was never corrected, and the prosecution continued for months.
Pretrial Detention and the Destruction of a Law Practice
Our client was detained for more than a month before being placed on home detention. During that time, felony charges remained publicly pending.
The complaint details how those charges devastated a thriving law practice. Clients withdrew. Professional relationships deteriorated. The uncertainty and reputational harm made continued operation impossible.
Ultimately, he sold his firm for a fraction of its value to protect his clients and comply with his ethical obligations. Years of work building a multi-state consumer finance practice were undone by charges that never should have been filed.
Dismissal did not restore what was lost.
False Arrest and Malicious Prosecution in Baltimore
Under the Fourth Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, law enforcement officers may not arrest or prosecute someone without probable cause. Probable cause must be grounded in truthful, reliable information.
When an officer secures felony charges based on a false statement, and the system fails to correct the record once that statement is withdrawn, constitutional rights are violated.
False arrest strips a person of liberty. Malicious prosecution compounds that harm by forcing someone to defend against charges that lack a lawful foundation.
Furman Honick Law handles complex civil rights litigation involving wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution, and systemic constitutional violations in Maryland and federal courts.
Accountability for Systemic Failures
This lawsuit does not allege a simple mistake. It alleges deeper failures in warrant practices and accountability mechanisms.
Public trust in the justice system depends on the integrity of sworn statements and the existence of meaningful oversight. When officers can initiate felony prosecutions based on false allegations, and no immediate correction follows when those allegations unravel, the consequences extend beyond a single individual.
Allen Honick has long represented clients in high-stakes civil rights and governmental accountability cases. This lawsuit reflects that continued commitment to confronting unconstitutional conduct directly and aggressively.
Baltimore Civil Rights Attorneys for False Arrest and Wrongful Prosecution
If you or someone you care about has been wrongfully arrested or prosecuted in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland, you may have legal remedies under federal and state law.
These cases require careful investigation of warrant affidavits, sworn testimony, body camera footage, and internal departmental practices. Government defendants defend them vigorously.
Furman Honick Law does not hesitate to litigate when constitutional rights are violated.
If you believe your rights were violated through false arrest, unlawful detention, or malicious prosecution, contact Furman Honick Law for a free consultation with one of our partners.