A federal judge has strongly criticised the arrest of a Black man inside a Trader Joe's in Washington, D.C., calling it an illegal search and highlighting concerns over racial profiling. The case comes amid President Donald Trump's federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department, which began with an executive order on August 11 declaring a 'crime emergency' in the capital.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui described the search as 'the most illegal search I've ever seen in my life' and said a 'high school student would know this was an illegal search.' The judge noted that the police had no reason to stop Torez Riley other than the colour of his skin, and warned that 'lawlessness cannot come from the government.'
According to court records, officers observed Riley adjusting his satchel as he looked at their vehicle, then followed him into the Trader Joe's. They asked if he had a concealed carry licence, patted down his bag, and found two firearms. Riley was charged with unlawful possession due to a prior conviction. The government later moved to dismiss the case, with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stating she ordered the dismissal after reviewing body camera footage.
The judge's remarks referenced Trump's federal takeover, saying 'the Sixth Amendment doesn’t get thrown out the window because the government has decided to make a show of arresting people.' Since the takeover, over 1,000 arrests have been made and 115 illegal guns seized, despite a 30-year low in violent crime in the city.
Pirro defended the police actions, accusing the judge of 'bending over backwards to release dangerous felons.' However, the judge maintained that the search was unlawful and warned Riley in court: 'You can’t go into a grocery store without getting stopped and illegally searched. Do you understand?'
