A federal jury awarded $76,000 to a mechanic falsely arrested by Huntsville police officers after refusing to produce identification while fixing a customer’s car in a church parking lot five years ago, his attorney said Friday.

Roland Edger was awarded $75,000 for pain and suffering and an additional $1,000 for pain and suffering on Wednesday after the 2019 arrest by Huntsville police officers Krista McCabe and Cameron Perillat, according to civil rights attorney Hank Sherrod, who represented him on the mechanic.

U.S. District Judge Liles Burke ruled that McCabe and Perillat falsely arrested Edger and that a federal jury in Huntsville will decide damages owed to the mechanic. It also held the city of Huntsville liable because it is the officers’ employer.

“Roland is very happy to close this chapter in his life,” said Sherrod. “Roland never imagined it would take 5 years to get justice, but he is pleased with the judge’s decision and the jury’s verdict. Justice delayed is better than no justice. Roland hopes this verdict will lead to better practices by police officers.”

Huntsville police said in a statement to WOW that the department “complies with the court’s decision and will include additional training to ensure our practices are aligned with the court’s ruling.”

A customer called Edger in June 2019 and said his wife’s red Toyota Camry had broken down at the church where she worked in Huntsville, according to federal court records.

Edger got there a day or two later, got the car key from the church office, examined the car and concluded that the problem might be with the steering or the tire and left.

He returned with his stepson later that evening, and the church’s security guard called 911 to report “two Hispanic males who had gotten into a fight with an employee’s car that had been left on the lot,” according to federal court records .

Officer McCabe showed up about 30 minutes later, according to court records.

A 40 minute video the encounter and arrest, which was vacated by a federal appeals court, began with Officer McCabe approaching Edger as he picked up a red Toyota Camry in the parking lot of Union Progressive Missionary Baptist Church on the evening of June 10, 2019. Edger’s stepson was standing nearby.

McCabe began questioning Edger. Edger told McCabe that he was fixing a car for his client. McCabe then pointed to a black hatchback parked nearby and asked whose car it was. Edger replied that it was his.

That was followed by 30 seconds of silence as the officer watched Edger work on the car, the video shows.

“Okay. Cut a break for me real quick and do you all have your driver’s license or IDs? McCabe asked in the video after the silence. By then, a second officer, Perilllat, had arrived in the parking lot, the justices noted in their opinion.

“I will not submit to an ID. Listen, call the lady right now. Look, I don’t have time for this. I don’t mean to be rude or mean, but… . .” Edger said as he got up from working on his car.

“Okay. No, you have to give me your ID or your driver’s license,” Officer McCabe said in the video as Officer Perillat approached Edger from behind.

The body cam showed Edger running both hands through his hair in apparent frustration and saying “Listen, I don’t want you running me, um, for no good reason.”

“You refuse to give me your ID or your driver’s license,” McCabe asked in the video.

“I’m telling you, you call this lady on the phone…” Edger began to say before the footage showed Officer Perillat grabbing him from behind and shoving him into the car.

As Perrillat handcuffed him, Edger said twice that he would show them his ID.

“You are under arrest,” McCabe said in the footage.

“For what?” Edger asked.

“For obstruction,” McCabe replied.

“I didn’t do anything,” Edger said, as the footage showed McCabe holding him down on the vehicle.

“So if you continue to resist, you will also be charged with resisting arrest. Do you understand?” McCabe said in the footage.

“Listen, I’m going to give you my ID, I’m going to tell you what’s going on, this is ridiculous, I’m trying to get a customer’s car here. i’m in a hurry My store is unlocked right now,” Edger said.

Perillat eventually found the ID after searching Edger’s wallet. In the video, McCabe explained to Edger’s stepson that Edger was going to jail for obstructing an investigation by refusing to give him ID.

According to Sherrod, there were two problems with the arrest. First, officers must have reasonable suspicion before detaining a person, and McCabe saw nothing criminal to warrant the arrest of Edger. Second, even if the seizure had been legal, under Alabama law, McCabe could not legally demand an ID during a non-traffic stop.

A panel of federal appeals court judges ruled that Edger did not have to show any identification because Alabama Stop-and-Identify status it only allows an officer to stop a person in public and “demand his name, address and an explanation of his actions” on reasonable suspicion of a crime.

The city of Huntsville charged Edger with “obstructing governmental operations” for refusing to provide identification, but later dropped the charge. Edger sued in federal court, alleging false arrest in violation of his civil rights. A federal judge in Huntsville granted the officer qualified immunity and dismissed the lawsuit.

On appeal, federal appeals judges rejected the officers’ argument that they had probable cause to arrest Edger because he refused to produce physical identification and sent the case back to Burke’s courtroom.

Updated at 6:08 p.m. to include comment from the Huntsville Police Department.