Black Truck Driver Files $20 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Courthouse Assault in North Carolina
Black truck driver Don D. Long II sues Northampton County deputy and sheriff for $20M after alleged courthouse pepper spray caused permanent vision loss.Summary
The lawsuit, filed by 39-year-old Black truck driver Don D. Long II, alleges that on January 22, 2026, Northampton County Sheriff's Deputy Gregory Colson sprayed pepper spray directly into Long's eyes at the Northampton County Courthouse, causing permanent vision damage, and then assaulted him while he was blinded; the incident was captured on video that garnered over five million views online. Long, represented by civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels, Chantel Cherry-Lassiter and Gerald Griggs, claims he posed no threat and was attempting to comply with court orders when Colson exited the courtroom and used unlawful force. The complaint also alleges that after being sprayed, Long was further assaulted, detained in a holding cell, and later hospitalized, with medical staff confirming significant vision impairment that threatens his ability to work as a commercial truck driver. The suit seeks $20 million in damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, loss of livelihood and civil-rights violations, and notes that the allegations have not yet been proven in court.
(Source：Theclevelandamerican)