A Reading police officer named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by a Reading man who was arrested for public preaching was found dead in her home on New Year’s Eve.
Officer Courtney P. Dupree, 28, was found dead on Dec. 31, 2023, in her Wyomissing residence. Her obituary states that “Courtney was currently employed as a police officer for Reading Police Department. She couldn’t be more proud of being a police officer, and enjoyed her job.” Dupree graduated from the Reading Police Academy in 2020. Her cause of death was not disclosed.
Dupree was involved in the arrest of Damon Atkins on June 3, 2023, in Reading, Pennsylvania. During a “Pride March and Rally” endorsed by the city’s mayor, Atkins stood across the street and began to publicly quote a Bible verse to the attendants of the homosexual pride gathering.
In less than a minute, Atkins was placed in handcuffs by Police Sergeant Bradley T. McClure, with Dupree and another female officer assisting.
The arrest was captured on film by Matthew Wear of Reading, who told The Lancaster Patriot that he had been preaching prior to Atkins’ arrival and was told to stop preaching by McClure.
Atkins was initially charged with disorderly conduct, however after reviewing video footage of the incident the Berks County District Attorney dropped the charges.
In July 2023, Atkins filed a civil lawsuit against the City of Reading, Mayor Eddie Moran, Chief of Police Richard Tornielli, and police officers Bradley T. McClure and Courtney Dupree as defendants.
The civil complaint, filed by Joel A. Ready of Cornerstone Law Firm, contends that Atkins’ constitutional rights were violated.
The complaint also argues that “Bradley T. McClure and Courtney Dupree, or any of them, are liable to Plaintiff for the tort of false imprisonment under Pennsylvania law, having caused the detention of Plaintiff and such detention was unlawful.”
The complaint alleges that the City of Reading accords a “privileged status to the LGBTQ Pride movement, which privileged status equates any dissenting viewpoint from LGBTQ identity politics…as ‘derogatory comments,’ ‘insults’ and ‘hate speech’ which must be chilled and suppressed.”
The lawsuit is currently in the discovery phase, a period during which both parties gather and exchange information and evidence. The discovery phase is scheduled to end on May 3, 2024, and the Defendants are expected to file a motion for summary judgment by May 17.
The jury trial date is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 30, 2024.
Be careful, Mr. Atkins. DA John Adams cannot be trusted. Most corrupt DA out there. He won’t hesitate to falsify reports and lie to protect his officers. Does it on a regular basis!
Fits in with other corrupt DAs across the country
Praying for John