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Police in Illinois allegedly mistook the ashes of a grieving dad’s 2-year-old daughter for drugs, according to reports.

“No, no, no, bro, that’s my daughter!” said Dartavius Barnes on video from a Springfield police bodycam, obtained by WICS, the Springfield ABC affiliate. Barnes was pulled over last year, and is now suing the Springfield police department and the Illinois city.

Police, who were searching Barnes’ vehicle for drugs, opened a cylinder containing the child’s ashes and scattered them on the ground during the search, court records say.

Body cam footage of a cop opening a canister of ashes.
Police, who were searching Dartavius Barnes’ vehicle for drugs, opened a cylinder containing his daughter’s ashes.
Springfield Police Department
Body cam footage of Dartavius Barnes in a police cruiser.
Officers placed Dartavius Barnes in handcuffs and searched his vehicle without his consent.
Springfield Police Department
Body cam footage of a cop opening a canister of ashes.
Officers unsealed the urn, opened it, and spilled out the ashes.
Springfield Police Department
Dartavius Barnes, Ta'Naja Barnes' father, is suing the Springfield Police Department and the city.
Dartavius Barnes, Ta’Naja Barnes’ father, is suing the Springfield Police Department and the city.
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Barnes’ daughter, Ta’Naja, died Feburay 2019 after police found her unresponsive and wrapped in a urine-soaked blanket, according to WICS. The toddler had been neglected and starved in the days leading up to her death, according to authorities.

The girl’s mother, T’wanka Davis and her boyfriend were found guilty of her murder and sentenced to decades in prison.