Named in 9 known lawsuits, $167,500 total settlements.
Clarke, Ronald vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 805903/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, April 29, 2021
Complaint
Description: On April 29, 2020, P.O. DISTELHURST approached Plaintiff as Plaintiff sat in the driver’s seat of Plaintiff’s vehicle in the vicinity of Seymour Avenue and Needham Avenue in the Bronx. P.O. DISTELHURST dragged Plaintiff out of Plaintiff’s vehicle and violently handcuffed Plaintiff. P.O. DISTELHURST intentionally and falsely accused Plaintiff of having committed Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree. P.O. was forced to remain in a precinct holding cell until Plaintiff was removed to Bronx Central Booking. At Bronx Central Booking, Plaintiff was searched, photographed, and forced to remain in various holding cells. On April 30, 2020, Plaintiff was released from Central Booking without appearing befo...
Almanzar, Baldwin vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 20CV11021,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 14, 2021, ended May 4, 2022
$145,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On June 4, 2020, plaintiff Abelson participated in a Mott Haven protest after the killing of George Floyd. Plaintiff was caught in a barricade when officers told him and others in the front to move, but there was no room for them to do so from others pressing forward. Officers mocked him and others by saying "they couldn't breathe." officers then begin to attack plaintiff, punching him in the eye and twisting his finger until they broke it. Another pulled down his mask and pepper-sprayed him. Plaintiff was then pulled over the barrier of bikes, thrown to the ground, hit with batons and kicked. His hands were then placed behind his back and an officer kneeled on his neck. He was then handcuffed with zip ties and...
Richard, Richard vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 800441/2021,
Supreme Court - Bronx, January 14, 2021
Hazel, Darren vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 033242/2019E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, November 18, 2019
Complaint
Description: On each of August 9, 2018, August 17, 2018, October 29, 2018 and December 31, 2018 Plaintiff Darren Hazel was driving late at night, when Defendant officers Angel Lopez, Ariana Esteban and Andrew Distelhurst illegally stopped him, without cause. On each instance, the Defendants searched the Plaintiff and his car and recovered no illegal drugs or contraband, proceeded to handcuff Plaintiff and falsely charged him with driving in an unlawful manner and possession of a controlled substance. On each instance, the Defendants provided false statements and information to the District Attorney's office in furtherance of the aforementioned fabricated allegations, and Plaintiff was detained for several hours and strip ...
Cornielle, Jonathan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 024555/2019E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, May 9, 2019
Williams, Daryl vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 025183/2019E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, May 2, 2019
Complaint
Description: On May 18, 2018, Plaintiff was driving on White Plaints Road in the Bronx, when Defendant Officers, including Officer Distalhurst, were driving in the opposite direction on the other side of the road, and signaled for Plaintiff to stop his vehicle. When Officers crossed the road to approach Plaintiff’s vehicle, Plaintiff overheard the Officers indicating that they should turn off their camcorders and put them away, in which Plaintiff then watched them do. Officers then, without just cause, detained Plaintiff and searched him and his vehicle. After conducting their illegal search, Defendant officer’s falsified paperwork that Plaintiff had a broken tail light, and that Plaintiff gave Defendant Officers permission...
Williams, Darryl vs Po Distelhurst, Andrew
Case # 18CV07432,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 15, 2018, ended April 10, 2019
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: On May 18, 2018, Plaintiff was driving and was illegally stopped by Defendant-Police Officer Andrew Distelhurst (Shield No. 18304) for a defective brake light. Defendant then ordered Plaintiff out of the car without cause and illegally searched his vehicle. Defendant falsely arrested Plaintiff and forced Plaintiff's arm behind his back with extreme force, causing injuries. Plaintiff's cellphone was also illegally taken and his emails, pictures, and social media were illegally searched through. As a pretrial detainee, Plaintiff has requested MRIs and Xrays for his shoulder, and had not yet received care at the time of filing the complaint.
Via, Eric vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 027624/2018E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, July 2, 2018, ended March 5, 2019
$22,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On August 27, 2017, Plaintiff ERIC VIA was aggressively approached by Police Officer ANDREW DISTELHURST, Police Officer JOHN DOE, and Police Officer JOHN ROE. Without cause or justification, Defendant officers conducted an illegal search of the plaintiff and unlawfully arrested him using excessive, unnecessary and unlawful force. Plaintiff was held in custody and remained wrongfully imprisoned for over 24 hours, and was required to make numerous court appearances over an extended period of time until all charges against him were terminated favorably.
Plaintiff ERIC VIA was caused to sustain serious, severe, painful and permanent bodily injuries so that he was rendered sick, lame and disabled and so remains an...
Peralta, Manuel vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 21CV00605,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, July 1, 2016
Complaint
Description: On May 1, 2019, late at night, the plaintiff, Manuel Peralta, was standing on the sidewalk near his apartment speaking with a neighbor when that neighbor got into a heated verbal argument with a third man. Mr. Peralta began heading away from the argument and then saw two additional men running toward the group, at which point Mr. Peralta began running home. The two men were defendant NYPD Officers Andrew Distelhurst and Michael Gonzalez; they were dressed in plain clothes and never identified themselves as police officers or ordered Mr. Peralta to stop. The two men chased Mr. Peralta into his building. They forced the building's door open, and when he raised his hands in surrender, they turned him onto his stom...