The federal civil rights lawsuit filed on behalf of Thomas Simmons claims Sgt. Ashley Smith punched Simmons in the face and dragged him across gravel and concrete after a car crash in Greenville. The lawsuit claims that on May 25, 2024, Thomas Simmons had a crash on Highway 33 in Greenville caused by an epileptic seizure. According to the lawsuit, Smith accused Simmons of being on meth. WRAL News has reached out to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol with a request for comment.