An Ohio-based police officer, Miranda Brothers, has filed a lawsuit against the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, alleging wrongful removal of her child and the inappropriate distribution of explicit images from her personal phone. The lawsuit was filed a year after Brothers, a single mother, was charged with a crime that was later dismissed.
The incident began on January 1, 2024, when Brothers was pulled over by sheriff’s investigators. They removed her five-year-old child from her car, alleging that she had left the child alone with a registered sex offender. This led to her child being placed in foster care and Brothers being charged with child endangerment. The lawsuit alleges that Brothers allowed the sex offender to spend extended periods of time alone with her son.
However, the lawsuit contends that these allegations were baseless, and the sheriff’s office lacked evidence to charge her with a crime. Brothers’ attorney, Eric Fink, stated that none of the officers who testified saw any contact between the child and the registered sex offender. The charges against Brothers were dismissed later that year. Initially suspended from work due to the legal proceedings, Brothers returned to duty after the case was dropped.
Fink expressed concern over the treatment of Brothers, questioning why she was targeted and treated differently from other parents in similar situations. The village of Mantua, where Brothers resides and works, has a population of about 1,000.
As part of the investigation, the sheriff’s office seized Brothers’ phone. An unnamed detective reportedly found private digital images on the phone, which were then shared within the department and potentially beyond. The lawsuit describes this conduct as “extreme and outrageous,” exceeding the bounds of decency and unacceptable in a civilized society.
Fink confirmed that the images were explicit and stated that despite a thorough search of Brothers’ phone and her child’s tablet, no evidence of wrongdoing was found. However, several pictures unrelated to the case were discovered and circulated within the department.
Brothers is seeking substantial damages for malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress.