News Summary
The family of Brittany Webb has filed a lawsuit against the City of Charlotte and involved police officers following her death in a police pursuit. The incident, which occurred after a minor traffic stop, highlights concerns about police pursuit policies and public safety. The released body camera footage raises questions over the actions of the officers, leading to a reevaluation of pursuit protocols by the CMPD. A jury trial is slated for March 2026 as the families seek justice for the tragic incident.
Charlotte – The family of Brittany Webb has officially filed a lawsuit against the City of Charlotte, two police officers, and the driver involved in a deadly police pursuit that ended with Webb’s death and injuries to two others. The incident, which took place on January 3, 2022, has been brought back into the spotlight following the release of body camera footage by Charlotte police on June 10, 2025, as mandated by court orders.
The attorney representing Brittany Webb’s estate, Paul Dickinson, described the tragic sequence of events as preventable. His criticism is directed towards the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), which, he argues, failed to effectively prioritize public safety during the incident. Dickinson indicated that the suit aims to hold the involved parties accountable for their actions during the police chase that resulted in the fatal crash.
Webb suffered a traumatic brain injury and remained on life support for three days before passing away. The crash was triggered when Bryan Franklin, the driver being pursued, collided head-on with Webb’s vehicle on Statesville Avenue after engaging in evasive maneuvers to evade arrest over a minor traffic violation related to his vehicle’s license plate. As a result of the pursuit, a third victim, Aaron Norward, sustained severe injuries and spent a month in a coma.
The lawsuit specifically alleges that the two officers involved in the traffic stop violated CMPD’s directives concerning police pursuits, which define a pursuit as any situation where an officer follows a subject who flees or takes evasive actions. Notably, during their press release, police referred to the situation as being ‘monitored’ rather than acknowledging it as a chase or pursuit.
Franklin, who ignored police lights and sirens, faces significant consequences for his actions. He is currently serving a 13-year sentence for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, as confirmed by official records. The lawsuit asserts that the police officers had the opportunity to de-escalate the situation but instead opted for an aggressive pursuit that ultimately led to the fatal crash.
Body camera footage released by the department includes dialogue where officers caution each other to watch their speed during the pursuit. This highlights the internal acknowledgment that public safety measures were not adequately upheld during the event. Criticism arose further after a sergeant on duty questioned the actions of the pursuing officers for disregarding commands to discontinue the chase.
In the aftermath of this incident, the CMPD did revise its pursuit policy slightly, although this change was not a direct response to the events surrounding Webb’s death. The attorney for Webb’s family suggests that the initial reason for pulling over Franklin—a minor license plate violation—did not justify the aggressive pursuit that followed. This viewpoint raises broader concerns about police pursuit policies nationwide and their effectiveness in mitigating the risk to public safety.
The lawsuit was filed in 2024, and a jury trial is currently scheduled for March 2026. The ongoing legal proceedings will likely delve into the accountability of police practices and pursuit policies as the families of the victims seek justice for the incident that caused irreversible damage to their lives.
This tragic case underscores a growing national discourse about the increasing number of fatalities linked to police pursuits and the need for law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety is placed at the forefront of their operations.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Supreme Court Revives Lawsuit Over Fatal Traffic Stop Shooting
Additional Resources
- WBTV: Charlotte Woman Killed in Wrong Way Crash
- Wikipedia: Police Chase
- WCNC: Body Cam Footage of Fatal Crash
- Google Search: Charlotte police pursuit policies
- Charlotte Observer: Lawsuit Filed in Police Pursuit Case
- Google Scholar: police pursuit accountability
- WBTV: Release of Video from Vehicle Chase
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Police Chase Policies
- WCCB: Body Camera Reveals K9 Shooting Incident
- Google News: police pursuit fatalities
Author: HERE Charlotte
The CHARLOTTE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECharlotte.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Lovin' Life Music Festival, Charlotte Pride festival, and major sporting tournaments at Bank of America Stadium. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and Foundation for the Carolinas, plus leading businesses in finance and entertainment that power the local economy such as Bank of America and NASCAR. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAsheville.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
