Afroman is flipping the script with a new lawsuit against one of the former Adams County deputies who raided his house and sued him.
Born Joseph Foreman, the Grammy-nominated rapper best known for his 2000 song “Because I Got High” is suing Sgt. Brian Newland, a former detective with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Newland had sued Afroman over music videos made using security footage from a 2022 raid on Afroman’s home.
In that lawsuit, Newland and other deputies claimed Afroman had defamed them and violated their privacy by creating the music videos, “Will You Help Me Repair My Door” and “Lemon Pound Cake.” A jury ruled in favor of the musician in March.
Now, Afroman is turning around and claiming the same against Newland, arguing the lawsuit defamed him, invaded his privacy and cost him tens of thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees, according to a July 27 lawsuit filed in Adams County Common Pleas court.
“HAPPY OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY TO ME,” Afroman wrote in a post on Instagram announcing the lawsuit. “And for my birthday present, I’m suing the police officer who stole my $400, then had the audacity to sue me for 1,500,000 dollars.”
Newland resigned “in good standing” from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office in December 2023, months after he joined six other deputies in suing Afroman, according to state police officer records. He now works for the Norwood Police Department.
Newland and his attorney did not immediately return messages from The Enquirer.
It is unclear why Afroman is only suing Newland and not the other six deputies involved in the first lawsuit against him. The Enquirer has reached out to Afroman’s attorney David Osborne for more information.
Afroman: Lawsuit was violation of freedom of speech
In August 2022, Adams County deputies raided the home of Afroman with a search warrant tied to an investigation into possible drugs and kidnapping victims. No charges were filed after the raid.
Deputies seized thousands of dollars in cash, which was later returned, but Afroman said about $400 was never recovered.
Afroman said the raid left damage throughout his home, and that the Adams County Sheriff’s Office told him it was not responsible for paying for repairs.
After the deputies filed their lawsuit, Afroman submitted a countersuit for the damages to his home, which was dismissed by a judge earlier this year.
Afroman said that the countersuit was not just about the money, he believed his freedom of speech protections were violated, according to Enquirer media partner Fox 19.
“I should have freedom of speech,” he said. “I should be allowed to speak out about my life, and police officers that violate my home and steal my money should not be allowed to sue me.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Afroman files lawsuit against deputy in ‘Lemon Poundcake’ suit, raid
Reporting by David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
