An Aurora man who says he was held in Denver’s jails on a sex-assault charge against a white man with a different name plans to sue Denver and its Sheriff’s Department today in U.S. District Court.
Bradley Braxton, who is African- American, says jail deputies should have known he was not the suspect in the case. He claims that the deputies did not bother to check their records despite his pleas. Braxton says he was held for nine days and that he was never brought before a judicial officer to clear up the matter.
Braxton’s attorney, Gregory C. Graf, is expected to ask for $1 million in damages in the civil-rights lawsuit.
“The city attorney’s office has reviewed Mr. Braxton’s claim and is making every effort to resolve it with him,” said city spokeswoman Sue Cobb. “We hope and expect to reach an agreement with him.”
Braxton appeared in Denver District Court in July to deal with a 1995 traffic case when he was arrested on a warrant for the sex-assault case against a man named David Eddy, Graf said.
Graf says his client lost his job while he was in custody. Braxton was released from custody without an explanation and he claims that the deputies laughed at him and made racially insensitive remarks.
