A black doctor detained while walking to her car after her hospital shift because Patterson decided she looked suspicious in the parking garage. A Hispanic business owner stopped and questioned while opening his own restaurant early in the morning because Patterson assumed he was breaking in. A black professor stopped while jogging because Patterson thought he was running from something. Every single one of them had been treated like criminals for the offense of existing while not white. The state attorney general reviewed all the evidence Chen had compiled and announced that criminal charges would be filed against Officer Dennis Patterson.
The charges were serious and specific: false arrest, official misconduct, deprivation of rights under color of law, and filing a false police report. Combined, Patterson faced up to 12 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Chen also built the civil case with devastating precision. She calculated damages based on the humiliation Bennett suffered, the harm to her business reputation, the emotional distress of being handcuffed and arrested in front of her own employees and customers, and the need for punitive damages large enough to send a message that this behavior would not be tolerated. She filed a federal civil rights lawsuit demanding $680,000 from Officer Patterson, Patricia Patterson, and the police department.
During the deposition process, both Pattersons destroyed what little remained of their defense. Patricia admitted under oath that she called her husband because Bennett didn't look like she belonged in that kind of store and you can just tell when someone doesn't fit in. When pressed on what specifically made Bennett not fit in, Patricia couldn't articulate anything beyond vague feelings and ultimately admitted it was because Bennett was black. And Patricia had never seen a black woman own a luxury boutique. Officer Patterson's deposition was even more damaging.
When asked why he didn't believe Bennett when she said she owned the store, he stated, "It just didn't seem credible. I've never encountered a situation like that." When asked what he meant by a situation like that, he tried to backtrack but eventually admitted he meant he had never seen a black woman own an upscale business and therefore assumed Bennett must be lying. The most devastating moment came when Chan asked Patterson directly, "If a white woman had told you she owned the boutique, would you have believed her?" Patterson paused for a long time before answering.
"Probably yes." That answer, recorded in an official deposition, ended any chance he had of defending himself. Amara Bennett held a press conference outside her boutique 1 week after the incident. She stood in front of the store she had built wearing a business suit that she'd designed herself and spoke directly to the cameras with a voice that was calm, clear, and absolutely unforgiving. "My name is Amara Bennett.
I built Bellecore Boutique from nothing. I worked three jobs to save the money to open my first store. I spent years learning the fashion industry, developing relationships with designers, understanding what women want when they shop for luxury clothing. I created something beautiful and successful through hard work and determination. And when I walked into my own store to shop, I was treated like a criminal because Officer Dennis Patterson and his wife Patricia could not imagine that a black woman could own a business like mine."
Bennett paused and let her words sink in before continuing. "Their racism didn't just hurt me personally. It sent a message to every black entrepreneur, every black professional, every black person who works hard and achieves success, that no matter what we accomplish, some people will always see us as criminals first. Officer Patterson saw my skin color and decided I was suspicious. His wife saw me shopping and called the police.