Deputy Dean Kidd was involved in multiple incidents of racial discrimination and misconduct. Prior to 2013, Kidd was involved in a tasing incident with another African-American deputy, Brian Kerns, after making racially charged jokes about grape Kool-Aid and watermelon. During the plaintiff’s employment, Kidd called the plaintiff ‘boy’ and told him he ‘needed to pick up trash after the white folk.’ Kidd also played a racist Mario Kart YouTube video in front of the plaintiff, which included offensive language. These actions contributed to a hostile work environment and were part of a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination within the department.
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