A man whose attempted murder case was dropped this year is suing the City of Opa-locka, its police department and several former city officials, saying he was wrongfully arrested and his constitutional rights were violated.
Anthony Mitchell was arrested in 2024 for the alleged shooting of then-Vice Mayor Christopher Davis, who was shot on Aug. 21, 2024, according to police. Davis told officers that Mitchell had shot at him during Davis’s mayoral campaign, after a fight involving Davis, Mitchell and Mitchell’s brother.
Mitchell spent time in the Miami-Dade jail and was later placed on house arrest while the charges were pending. Prosecutors first reduced the case to battery and then dismissed all charges in April. His attorney, Michael Pizzi, said prosecutors could not prove their case, and the record has since been expunged.
In an interview with 7News on Friday, Mitchell said he was “framed” and was “basically the fall guy.” Pizzi said the charges were politically motivated and that police were pressured to arrest Mitchell because of his conflict with a former city official who was also a mayoral candidate. The suit seeks millions of dollars, Pizzi said.
Mitchell said the case also took a toll on his family, including his daughter and grandson. The City of Opa-locka said it takes the matter seriously but would not comment on pending litigation.
