Named in 8 known lawsuits, $361,000 total settlements.
Jackson, Bryon vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 20CV03433,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, May 1, 2020, ended November 10, 2021
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about February 4, 2019, at 12:30 p.m., Mr. Byron Jackson, a black man, was stopped on 116th Avenue near its intersection with 146th Street in Queens by Officer Ropenus and five other unknown NYPD officers. The officers asked Mr. Jackson where he was coming from and where he was going. They told him that the prior night a woman had been assaulted by a black man wearing a similar coat to the one Mr. Jackson was wearing. They pressured Mr. Jackson into handing over his identification and allowing them to take photos of him and his ID, after which they permitted him to leave.
On or about February 8, 2019, at 8:30 p.m., Mr. Jackson was stopped on Harrison Street near its intersection with Main Street in New ...
Francis, Ronald vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV06166,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, November 5, 2014, ended May 20, 2015
$35,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 21, 2011, Plaintiff was lawfully present on the street when he was stopped, detained, searched and handcuffed by officer Andrew Erato without probable cause to believe he had committed any crime or offense. Plaintiff was imprisoned in a police vehicle for approximately five hours, and transported to the 81st Precinct. Plaintiff was imprisoned and subjected to three humiliating strip searches. Officer Erato, responsible for Plaintiff's care and custody, was aware that Plaintiff was being strip searched. Officer Erato and Undercover Officer #CO 251 manufactured false evidence against plaintiff to justify his arrest and search, purporting that he was involved in the sale of marijuana. Plaintiff was late...
Thompson, Carl vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV05184,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, October 9, 2013, ended August 1, 2014
$40,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On July 24, 2012, at approximately 8:00 p.m., plaintiff Carl Thompson was in his car in front of a McDonalds in Brooklyn, NY, when his friend, plaintiff John Rodriguez, pulled into a parking space. They saw each other and started talking in plaintiff Thompson's car. The defendant NYPD officers, including Detectives Matthew Zito and Andrew Erato, knocked on the window of the car with their guns, and subsequently yanked plaintiff Thompson from the car. The officers then searched the car in a way that caused damage to the car. Plaintiff Thompson had a prescription for methadone, but when the officers discovered it, they ignored his explanation, and arrested both plaintiffs. They were falsely charged with pos...
Deas, Mark vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV00240,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, January 15, 2013, ended August 13, 2013
$65,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 11, 2010, Plaintiff was driving a van in Brooklyn when Defendant Detectives Erato, Galati, and Khan pulled him over. Defendant Erato and Galati approached on both sides of the vehicle. Plaintiff had just blown his nose when Defendant Galati grabbed the tissue from Plaintiff's hand. Then, both Defendant Galati and Erato assaulted Plaintiff, one with his fist and the other with a handheld radio. After the Defendants struck the Plaintiff they sprayed mace in Plaintiff's face. Then both Defendants dragged Plaintiff from his vehicle and continued to strike him in the face with their fists and the handheld radio. As a result, Plaintiff fell unconscious, defecated in his pants, and suffered injuries to his fa...
Rose v. City of New York et al
Case # 10CV03069,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$6,000 Settlement
Stipulation,
Complaint
Description: Plaintiff was unlawfully stopped, searched, assaulted, arrested, strip-searched and charged with felony. All charges dismissed.
Spears v. The City of New York
Case # 10CV03461,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$75,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint,
Stipulation
Ingram v. The City of New York et al
Case # 11CV02696,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$25,000 Settlement
Stipulation,
Amended Complaint
Bailey v. The City of New York et al
Case # 08CV01841,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$90,000 Settlement
Stipulation,
First Amended Complaint
Description: Defendant Officers approached Plaintiff on the street, assaulted him using fists, boots, a metal object, and mace, resulting in Plaintiff's 8 day hospitalization. Plaintiff was charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, which was later dismissed in the interest of justice.