Named in 12 known lawsuits, $271,001 total settlements.
Carr, Dainty, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 503091/2015,
Supreme Court - Kings, March 19, 2015, ended May 24, 2016
$42,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On March 8, 2014, Plaintiffs Carr and Pittman were in their bedroom sleeping when Defendant Officers entered their apartment unlawfully. Defendant Officers were looking for a guy named "Fats." During the time of the arrest, Fats was renting a room in that apartment. Defendant Officers searched the apartment and claimed they found drugs and a gun in Fats' room. They found Fats in the hallway and arrested him. Fat's room has its own lock and is not accessible to Plaintiffs. Defendant Officers proceeded to arrest Plaintiffs Carr and Pittman, who were both charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a weapon. Plaintiff's never saw drugs or guns in the apartment. Plaintiff was incarcerated fo...
Cora, Michael vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 14CV02454,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, April 21, 2014, ended October 28, 2014
$16,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Officers accused Plaintiff of matching the description of a gun suspect, threw him against a fence and searched him; upon finding a bottle of pills with a matching description they discarded the prescription and threatened him with jail. Cowan fastened handcuffs too tightly around Plaintiff's wrists, causing pain and numbness. At the precinct, Plaintiff was strip-searched and made to squat and cough. He was falsely charged with drug possession, which was later dismissed.
Birko, Kristof vs P.O. Cohen, Jason, et al.
Case # 13CV06631,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, December 17, 2013, ended October 6, 2014
$40,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Officers broke into Plaintiffs home, waking him up, looking for a suspect and then arrested Plaintiff saying that he attempted to hide the suspect. Charged with 220.03 and received an ACD.
Bradshaw, Terri, et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 13CV02991,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, June 5, 2013, ended October 7, 2013
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: Officers broke one Plaintiff's door and entered with their guns drawn while that Plaintiff was inside with her baby. They violently detained another Plaintiff without cause, arrested him, and falsely charged him with drug possession. At the precinct the officers performed strip and body cavity searches of this Plaintiff in the view of others. (This is part of the same raid/incident as in Lewis v. City of New York et al")
Askew, Timothy vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV04773,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, September 21, 2012, ended February 11, 2014
Settlement
Complaint
Description: Unknown officers emerged from an unmarked van and illegally searched and detained Plaintiff for no reason. The officers refused to give their badge numbers and threatened Plaintiff with jail in response to these inquiries.
Greene, Anthony vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 12CV06427,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, August 27, 2012, ended April 1, 2013
$7,501 Settlement
First Amended Complaint,
Judgment
Askew, Timothy vs City of New York
Case # 12CV03796,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY, August 20, 2012, ended February 11, 2014
Settlement
Complaint
Armstrong v. City of New York et al
Case # 11CV04051,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$38,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint
Description: Cowan and two other officers approached Plaintiff, a black senior citizen, while he was playing dominoes. They illegally searched him and his apartment, refused to allow him to get his heart medications before arresting him, drove him around for hours, and denied him medical treatment. He was finally released without charges. Plaintiff suffered similar and repeated harassment from the police during 2010 and 2011.
Bond v. The City of New York et al
Case # 11CV04675,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$17,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint
Description: Cowan and two other cops descended on Plaintiff as he left a C-Town grocery store. They illegally searched him, took his house keys, and detained him while police went into his house and searched it without his permission or a warrant. He was arrested and driven around for hours before being taken to the precinct and released without charges. Plaintiff was targeted and harassed in similar ways on multiple occasions during 2010 and 2011 and was falsely charged.
Hayes v. City of New York et al.
Case # 11CV04676,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
Settlement
Amended Complaint
Description: On June 13th, 2011 at 5:30 PM at 1782 Broadway, defendant officers approached plaintiff and friends who were playing dominoes outside of aforementioned address. 12 plain clothes defendant officers approached plaintiff and arrested plaintiff along with two other individuals. Defendant officers searched plaintiff, placed plaintiff in handcuffs and transported plaintiff to the 73rd precinct. Plaintiff was accused of selling Viagra to an undercover cop. On April 2011, two plain clothes officers approached plaintiff on street and performed a full-body search and transported him to the 73rd precinct. Plaintiff was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Outcomes are unknown.
Lewis v. City of New York et al
Case # 12CV01323,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$20,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint
Description: Cowan and other officers ambushed Plaintiff on the street. They illegally searched him including a strip search and body cavity search in public view. They punched and kicked and hit him with their weapons, then transported him to the 73rd Precinct before eventually releasing him without charges.
O'Hagan v. City of New York et al
Case # 09CV05597,
U.S. District Court - Eastern District NY
$75,000 Settlement
Amended Complaint
Description: Officers arrested Plaintiff in the deli where he was working without reason, fastened handcuffs on him too tightly, drove him around for hours, and filed false charges that were later adjourned in contemplation of dismissal.