As of mid-2026, there is no filed civil complaint in the Levi Trumbull lawsuit against the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office. The matter sits in a pre-litigation phase: a public records complaint is pending, and a notice of intent to sue seeking approximately $1 million has reportedly been issued over Trumbull’s March 29, 2025 arrest, which followed a breathalyzer result of 0.00%.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story2ClassAction24. Levi Trumbull Lawsuit
The Arrest That Started It
On the evening of March 29, 2025, Deputy First Class Roush of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office pulled Trumbull over near Route 355 and Lowes Lane at approximately 9:40 p.m., alleging he had run a red light.3Radio Free Hub City. Driver in Frederick Knew His Rights, Police Did Not Appear to Understand Maryland DUI Laws The stop escalated into a DUI investigation. Trumbull declined voluntary field sobriety tests but agreed to a breathalyzer at the station. It came back 0.00%.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story
A State Police drug recognition expert was brought in and did not find him impaired. Trumbull was handcuffed anyway. His vehicle was towed. No DUI charge was ever filed. The deputy cited “driving behavior” and “speech patterns” as probable cause; per reporting by Radio Free Hub City, those observations do not appear in the incident report.3Radio Free Hub City. Driver in Frederick Knew His Rights, Police Did Not Appear to Understand Maryland DUI Laws Body camera footage of the encounter has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
The Traffic Citations Were Dismissed
Trumbull received two citations tied to the alleged red-light violation. Both were dismissed on May 8, 2025, after Deputy Roush failed to appear at the hearing.4Radio Free Hub City. After Watching This Arrest Video I Won’t Be Doing Business in Frederick County Maryland He walked away with no convictions and no pending charges from the incident.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story
The Public Records Complaint Comes First
Before any civil action, Trumbull filed a public records complaint against the Sheriff’s Office. He asked for three things: the deputy’s complete incident report, any supervisory review documents connected to the stop, and internal correspondence about the encounter.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story The point is to establish why the arrest happened when every test cleared him.
As of mid-2026, the complaint was still working through the process and the records had not been released.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story What those documents show, or do not show, will likely shape whether a civil case gets filed.
What a Civil Suit Would Likely Look Like
The notice of intent to sue is a procedural step Maryland requires under the Local Government Tort Claims Act before someone can sue a local government entity. That notice reportedly puts damages around $1 million.2ClassAction24. Levi Trumbull Lawsuit
If a suit is filed, the core claims would likely be false arrest and civil rights violations brought under 42 U.S.C. ยง 1983, the federal statute that lets individuals sue government officials for constitutional violations. Damages sought could include towing and impound costs, emotional distress, reputational harm, and lost wages.1Law News. The Levi Trumbull Lawsuit Story
A Separate Defamation Case Trumbull Filed
Trumbull is also the plaintiff in an unrelated defamation lawsuit, which is sometimes confused with the Frederick County matter. He filed it on December 8, 2025 in Baltimore County Circuit Court against TikTok and Spotify creator Ava Grace May.5MEXC News. Levi Trumbull Defamation Lawsuit Against Ava Grace May
The complaint alleges Trumbull selected May in August 2024 to co-host a project, sent her contracts and $100 in travel funds, and that she never signed or returned the money. In September 2025, according to the complaint, May posted on Instagram accusing him of stalking and harassing her family and released a song titled “Astral Stalking.”5MEXC News. Levi Trumbull Defamation Lawsuit Against Ava Grace May The suit brings one count of defamation per se and seeks at least $30,000 in damages, a public apology on Instagram, and a permanent injunction against further false statements.6Nerdbot. Reckless Disregard: Creator Ava Grace May’s Contradictory Posts Undermine Her Claims
May attempted to file a peace order against Trumbull, but the petition was withdrawn on October 8, 2025 after she failed to serve him. By January 2026, a default order had been entered against May for failing to respond within the required 30-day window, and the case was moving toward a damages hearing.5MEXC News. Levi Trumbull Defamation Lawsuit Against Ava Grace May