Fannin County mother files federal suit over 2023 arrest

Fannin County, Georgia: Brittany Patterson has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, the county government, and the specific deputies who arrested her. The legal action follows a 2023 incident that drew national attention regarding the treatment of young children by law enforcement.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, seeks a declaratory judgment and an injunction against further violations of Patterson's civil rights. She and her husband, Daniel Patterson, are the plaintiffs in the case. They are represented by attorney Ashley B. Smith of the Atlanta law firm David L. Lawrence LLC.

According to the complaint, the events began on the evening of October 13, 2023. Patterson was at home in Fannin County when deputies arrived at her residence. The suit states that the officers entered the house without her permission. At that time, her son, Soren, was in their care. The deputies took the 1-year-old boy into their custody without explaining the reason for the detention to Patterson.

Patterson alleged that the deputies conducted a search of the home while she was present. She claimed the officers acted under a warrantless search, which she argued was unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The lawsuit asserts that the deputies failed to provide adequate supervision of the child during the search.

The arrest charge against Patterson was for reckless conduct. The Fannin County prosecutor dropped the charge several months after the incident. However, Patterson stated in the suit that the event caused deep emotional distress for her and her family. She described the experience as a traumatic moment that disrupted her family's stability.

"I wasn't aware that the deputies had taken my son," Patterson wrote in a statement provided to the court. "I was in shock. I just wanted to know where he was and why he was gone."

The lawsuit identifies specific deputies by name, including Deputies James and Michael, who were present at the scene. It claims that the deputies failed to secure the child properly and left him unattended for a period of time. Patterson argued that this lack of supervision constituted a violation of her due process rights.

In a separate declaration, Patterson's mother, who was present in the home, described the scene. She stated that the deputies entered the living room and immediately focused on the child. The declaration notes that Patterson was asked to step outside while the officers conducted their search. She was not allowed to return to the house until the search was complete.

The Fannin County Sheriff's Office has not yet issued a public statement regarding the new lawsuit. A spokesperson for the office confirmed receipt of the filing but said the office is reviewing the details. The case is currently pending before a federal judge. No trial date has been set.

Patterson said she is pursuing the lawsuit to ensure that other parents in Fannin County are protected from similar situations. She hopes the case will clarify the rights of parents when law enforcement enters their homes with young children. The suit seeks monetary damages and a court order requiring the sheriff's office to update its policies on child supervision during home searches.