Hi, ma'am. Um, earlier I think you'd went to check in. And Are they here for me? Yes, ma'am. What the You ain't here for me, baby. This is the moment Williams alleges she was assaulted. A citizen accuses a police officer of assault in a viral video. And now the officer is suing her. Not because anyone was arrested. Not because anyone was charged. But because the accusations went viral. And according to the lawsuit, that's the real injury. Funny how the justice system suddenly works fast when the badge is embarrassed. >> [music] >> This happened in Bristol, Virginia at the Hard Rock Casino. A woman posts videos online claiming a police officer assaulted her. The internet does what it does. It goes viral. Later, police release body cam footage. Medical records reportedly show no fractures or dislocations. And suddenly, we're told the real victim here is the officer's reputation. According to the lawsuit, the officer claims the woman made false statements, named her publicly, and caused serious harm. She's asking for damages, legal fees, and a check big enough to make the problem disappear. And yes, if someone knowingly lies, that's not okay. But let's not pretend this system suddenly discovered honesty yesterday. Three months ago, we told you about a woman who claimed she was assaulted by a Bristol, Virginia police officer at the Hard Rock Casino. Now, that officer is filing a lawsuit seeking more than $200,000 in damages and attorney fees. News 5's Mara Saint Marie breaks down the allegations and what the lawsuit claims. It's been a little more than 3 months since Stephanie Williams made this TikTok that generated nearly 900,000 views. Let's talk about this woman officer who wrongfully assaulted me last night. >> In a series of now-deleted videos posted on TikTok, Williams says she was accused of sneaking into an exclusive lounge at Hard Rock Casino in Bristol by two Bristol, Virginia police officers. When I asked why I needed to get up and leave, they told me I was a thief, that I had snuck in there, and I wasn't allowed to be in there. They said so many terrible things to embarrass me. I was humiliated. Hi, ma'am. Um, earlier I think you'd went to check in. And um Are they here for me? Yes, ma'am. What the You ain't here for me, baby. In her TikToks, Williams identifies the officer who she says assaulted her. This is Will Kate Tomlinson. She works at Bristol PD in Bristol, Virginia. Quick question, and don't answer out loud. How many citizens could sue police for false statements in reports and actually win? Yeah. That's what I thought. Stick with me, because when police get facts wrong, and they do, it's called a mistake. When police exaggerate, it's called officer perception. When police contradict their own body cam, it's called context. But when a citizen speaks, that's defamation. That's reckless. That's lawsuit time. One side gets qualified immunity. The other gets a court date. This is the moment Williams alleges she was assaulted. Williams told News 5 back in September that following the incident, she immediately went to the hospital. We got x-rays because the swelling is so bad, they don't want to put me in a cast or anything because they don't know how much damage is actually done. Medical records Williams shared with WCYB said no evidence of acute fracture or dislocation. In her interview with News 5, >> Williams apologized for her behavior, but said she acted out of embarrassment. My reaction was based off of the fact that I was humiliated and embarrassed, and I knew they had the wrong person. But for Officer Lilly K. Tomlinson, an apology isn't enough. This lawsuit isn't about truth. It's about control. Police control the report. Police control the footage. Police control when you see it, weeks or months later. And if the charges quietly disappear after that, no apology, no accountability, no lawsuit. But now, reputations matter. What a coincidence. On December 3rd, Tomlinson filed a civil lawsuit against Williams alleging defamation and seeking $200,000 plus attorney fees. According to the lawsuit, Tomlinson has suffered impairment to her reputation, diminished standing in the community, personal humiliation, psychological pain and embarrassment, emotional distress, and mental anguish. >> Let's call this what it is. This lawsuit sends a message. Speak carefully. Post carefully. Even if you believe what you're saying. Even if history says police narratives fall apart later. That's not justice. That's a chill wrapped in a legal filing. I hadn't done anything, and they literally told me they were going to arrest us for disorderly conduct because they didn't like the way we were speaking to them. The lawsuit says Williams' claims to be injured are false. News 5 reached out to both Williams and Officer Tomlinson. Tomlinson declined to comment. Williams has not responded to News 5's request. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. In Bristol, Virginia, Mara Saint Marie, News 5 WCYB. No one is defending false accusations. Truth matters. But equal accountability matters more. If citizens can be sued over speech, then police should be sued when they lie in reports, affidavits, or testimony. Same risk, same exposure, same consequences. Otherwise, don't call it justice. Call it privilege. For generations, police accusations were treated as truth until proven otherwise. Now, a citizen's accusation is being punished. Not with handcuffs, but with a bill. The real issue isn't who posted the video. It's who's always been allowed to be wrong, and who's never allowed to be loud. If you think accountability should work both ways, subscribe. Drop your thoughts below. Should officers be able to sue citizens like this? And remember, when the people film, the system shakes.