Maryland man’s lawsuit over rape investigation tossed by federal judge
Baltimore, MD — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Maryland man who claimed his constitutional rights were violated during a police investigation into a rape allegation that never led to charges.
Kobby Grant sued the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Anne Arundel County, and the State of Maryland over a 2022 investigation that began after his ex-girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. The case was closed in March 2023 without charges, but Grant argued that the police violated his Fourth Amendment rights and the Maryland DNA Collection Act by collecting and storing his DNA.
On Monday, the court ruled that Grant’s complaint failed to state a claim and dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
The dispute began on July 30, 2022, when Grant called 911 to report an assault by his then-girlfriend, Kirsten Nicole Bell. Police responded and removed Bell from the home, but the next day Grant was served with a summons and protective order after Bell alleged that he had raped her prior to the incident.
Officer Teare of the Anne Arundel County Police Department contacted Grant and informed him she was investigating the rape allegation. Grant agreed to participate in an interview and later complied with a court-approved search warrant for his DNA. He was never arrested or charged, and the case was closed six months later.
In his lawsuit, Grant alleged that the DNA collection was unlawful and discriminatory, arguing the investigation proceeded despite inconsistencies in Bell’s statements and a lack of evidence. He also accused the police department of racial bias, claiming white officers sided with a white accuser against a Black man.
The court rejected all of Grant’s claims, ruling that the police acted within legal authority. The DNA was collected under a valid warrant, and no evidence supported claims of discrimination or constitutional violations. Judge A.B.A. dismissed the complaint with prejudice, stating that even when taking all of Grant’s allegations as true, no plausible legal claim was presented.
Key Points
- A Maryland man’s lawsuit over a rape investigation that ended without charges has been dismissed.
- The court found police acted within the law by collecting DNA under a valid warrant.
- Allegations of racial bias and constitutional violations were rejected due to lack of evidence.
A man who accused Maryland police of rights violations after a closed rape case won’t get his day in court.
