Named in 2 known lawsuits.
Shirley, Benjamin vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 23CV09696,
U.S. District Court - Southern District NY, November 14, 2023, ended April 8, 2024
Zero Disposition
Complaint
Description: On March 8, 2020, around midnight, Plaintiff, a Black dentist, was lawfully present at the premises of the dental office he owned. Plaintiff exited the office to discard the office’s trash in the building’s designated area and reentered his office using his keys. Defendant officers Thomas Lee and Eugene Choi observed this and without justification, reasonable suspicion, or probable cause, began shining their flashlights inside the window and onto Plaintiff’s face, temporarily blinding and disorienting him. Defendant officers accessed the building’s intercom system and demanded Plaintiff exit the premises and show identification. Plaintiff called 911 and the dispatcher talked down to him then disconnected him. T...
Shirley, Benjamin vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 154769/2021,
Supreme Court - New York, May 26, 2021
Complaint
Description: On May 14, 2018, dentist Plaintiff was on the sidewalk abutting his place of work when POs Fitzgerald and Celenza approached, stopped, questioned, and detained him without justification. The POs lied about the reason for the stop, and when they saw that Plaintiff was videotaping the encounter, PO Celenza covered his badge and shined his flashlight in Plaintiff's face. During the encounter, the POs repeatedly refused to identify themselves and repeatedly laughed at Plaintiff. When the POs left the scene, they nearly struck Plaintiff with their vehicle.
Two years, later, starting on the evening of March 8, 2020, Plaintiff exited his place of work to take out the trash. After POs Lee and Choi observed him reente...