Overview

• Cervantes submitted a government claim against the City of Sacramento alleging unlawful detention, false arrest, defamation and violations of her constitutional rights after a May 19 crash.
• Prosecutors declined to file DUI charges after a Sacramento Police Department blood test found no measurable alcohol or drugs.
• The claim asserts officers lacked probable cause, used false statements to secure a blood-draw warrant despite her willingness to comply and filed false statements with the DMV that affected her driving privileges.
• It alleges officers leaked false information to the press, treated her differently than the other driver and acted in retaliation tied to her bill restricting automated license plate reader data practices and to her identity as an LGBTQ+ Latina.
• The filing cites body-camera gaps, including an officer turning off a camera for about five minutes and missing footage from a responding sergeant, while the police department declined comment citing pending litigation.