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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 2, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- Local lawyer Grady Irvin lodged a complaint Friday against a St. Petersburg patrolman whom he says pulled him over because of racial profiling.
Irvin complained that the officer, Brandon Stout, stopped him about 11:15 p.m. Monday and gave him a ticket for failing to signal before turning.
Irvin was making a right turn onto Sixth Avenue S from Fourth Street S. He was driving in the lane that says right turn only and says he is somewhat certain he had his signal on.
Near Fifth Avenue S and Third Street, Irvin said, Stout stopped him. The first question he asked, Irvin said, was about who owned the champagne-colored 2001 Infiniti i30. "I look at him in shock, and I'm thinking, "Whose car is it?' It just really ticked me off," said Irvin, who is black.
He called the police station and requested that a supervisor come to the scene. Two other officers showed up, Irvin said. They apologized and Irvin said he signed his ticket but noted that he was doing so in protest.
"I don't wish this officer any ill will at all," said Irvin, who plans to contest the ticket.
Officials in the department's internal affairs division would neither confirm nor deny that Irvin had lodged a complaint.
Irvin's complaint is not the first against Stout, who is white. Earlier this year, residents in Old Southeast were upset because Stout gave them tickets for parking on the wrong side of the street, a 40-year-old practice.
Stout could not be reached for comment Friday.