Instacart Shopper Sues Tennessee Police After Being Misidentified as Credit Card Fraud Suspect
CLARKSVILLE, TN — A Tennessee woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the Clarksville Police Department after she was wrongly accused of credit card fraud in a Facebook post that circulated widely online.
Facebook Post Sparks Backlash
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, claims that Courtney Miller was publicly defamed after Clarksville police published her surveillance photo on Facebook with the caption:
“HELP IDENTIFY ID THEFT SUSPECT.”
The April 7 post went to the department’s 65,000 followers, showing Miller in a pink “Self Love” sweatshirt, jeans, and pink shoes at a Kroger checkout.
Police said the image came from surveillance footage after a victim discovered unauthorized charges on her credit card.
Innocent Instacart Shopper
Miller’s lawsuit explains she was working as an Instacart shopper at the time and had no idea the card she used had been stolen.
She was never charged with any crime, but the “implication of guilt” in the post triggered widespread public backlash and emotional trauma.
Her family quickly recognized her in the Facebook photo and contacted police in an attempt to clear her name.
Mishandled Case Materials
According to the lawsuit, police not only shared Miller’s image with the public but also gave it to the fraud victim, whose family then posted it to a community Facebook group.
This meant, Miller argues, that “multiple unauthorized individuals had been given access to sensitive case material.”
Police Response and Media Coverage
After the mistake was recognized, police later issued a press release to local media clarifying that Miller was a victim and not a suspect. They also deleted the Facebook post.
But Miller told Nashville NBC affiliate WSMV that the damage to her reputation was already done:
“It is a lot to watch your reputation and your character be questioned and none of it be true.”
Lawsuit Filed Against Police
Miller is suing the Clarksville Police Department for civil rights violations and deliberate indifference.
The department has filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Meanwhile, both Kroger and Instacart said they are cooperating with investigators to locate the real credit card thief, though no arrests have been made.
Stay with ChicagoMusicGuide.com for updates on this case and other major civil rights lawsuits.