On June 1, 2009, Officer Funk detained Charles Brown, a Black business owner, mistaking him for a suspect named Cumun Fearrington. Despite Brown providing identification confirming his identity, Officer Funk handcuffed and detained him for over an hour. Brown filed a lawsuit against the Town of Chapel Hill and Officer Funk, alleging violations of the North Carolina Constitution, false imprisonment, and assault and battery. An internal investigation by the Chapel Hill Police Department found no wrongdoing. The case highlighted concerns about racial profiling and led to calls for a civilian police review board in Chapel Hill.
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