Named in 3 known lawsuits, $30,000 total settlements.
Summerlin, Aaron vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 715536/2022,
Supreme Court - Queens, September 13, 2022
Complaint
Description: On January 7, 2021, the plaintiff was wrongfully arrested at the 114th precinct in Astoria, Queens, NY, without legal justification. Upon voluntarily arriving at the precinct upon learning of a warrant or I-card, the plaintiff was informed by defendant detective Otto Pereira that he was a suspect in a robbery and assault that occurred in Queens in October 2020. Despite having not been in Queens for several years and having an alibi, the plaintiff was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, one count of criminal possession of a firearm, and related misdemeanors. Defendant Sergeant Matthew Barber approved the arrest and charges. The plaintiff was brought to central booking and arraigned on January 8, 202...
Hines, Victor vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 707526/2018,
Supreme Court - Queens, May 16, 2018, ended March 12, 2025
Administrative Closing
Complaint
Description: On December 5, 2014, Plaintiff was lawfully present near the Beach 60 St Subway Station, Queens, NY. Plaintiff and two other African-American males were arrested and charged with Attempted Robbery in the Third Degree and Possession of an Unlawful Imitation Pistol. Defendants intentionally filled out false reports, and forwarded them to the Queens DA. Plaintiff's co-arrestees maintained Plaintiff played no role in the alleged crime, and they did not know Plaintiff. Defendants withheld from prosecutors exculpatory information which would have exonerated Plaintiff. Plaintiff spent three years and one month in jail and made numerous court appearances. On January 25, 2018 all charges against Plaintiff were dismissed...
Melendez, Richard vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV00526,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, January 30, 2014, ended July 23, 2014
$30,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On February 5, 2011, at approximately 3:00am, the Plaintiff was walking to his neighborhood store in Manhattan when Defendant Officers Barber and John Doe 1-2 requested him to identify himself and tell them about the location of drugs. Despite the lack of any probable cause, Defendant Officers then arrested the Plaintiff and forced him to the ground where he was searched. During the search, Defendant Officers struck Plaintiff on the head with their fists, which caused injuries to his face and causing his nose to bleed profusely.