Named in 10 known lawsuits, $447,500 total settlements.
Thomas, Daeshawn, et Al vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 809584/2025E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, April 29, 2025, ended May 27, 2026
$150,000 Settlement
Gorin, Kurt Iii vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 815468/2024E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, October 15, 2024
Complaint
Description: On May 14, 2024, Kurt Gorin III ("Plaintiff" or "Claimant") was falsely arrested, imprisoned, assaulted and battered and subjected to excessive force. Claimant had completed a job interview at White Castle on Webster Avenue when the named police officers NYPD Segeant Pinny, and Officer Moneron stopped him to illegally search him without probable cause. Claimant then walked two blocks further and saw these officers again and pulled out his phone to take down their license plate number. Then 3 male officers and one female officer got out of the car. Segeant Pinny assaulted the Plaintiff, forcefully grabbing his hands and putting handcuffs on his left wrist at which the second male officer came up behind him and ...
Stevens, Tyreek, et al. vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 814248/2024E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, September 10, 2024, ended May 8, 2025
$120,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On May 4, 2023, Plaintiffs Tyreek Stevens, James Roberts and John Santamaria (collectively, "Plaintiff") was in the vicinity of East 162nd Street and Courtland Avenue, Defendants POLICE OFFICER BRYAN SCHEBLEIN, POLICE OFFICER SAMMY FIGUEROA, POLICE OFFICER BENITO CRUZ, POLICE OFFICER CHAD KIRK, and unnamed POLICE OFFICER JOHN DOE/ROE, stopped, searched, grabbed, assaulted, battered and detained Plaintiff 1 in an aggressive and excessive manner. Plaintiff attests that they battered in an offensive and hostile manner causing battery in and about his head, neck, back, body and limbs. Plaintiff attests that Defendants illegally
stopped and seized, searched and questioned based on race, and in order to meet arres...
Knight, Xavier vs City of Ny
Case # 814432/2023E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, September 20, 2023, ended May 17, 2024
$50,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On February 18, 2023, plaintiff Xavier Knight was lawfully outside on the streets when defendant officers stopped him in an aggressive manner without legal justification. They then searched, grabbed, assaulted, battered, and detained him.
Williams, Joshia, et al. vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 811751/2023E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, August 8, 2023
Complaint
Description: On June 17, 2022, police officers Daniel MARDJONOVIC (Sheild No.6391) and BENITO CRUZ (Shield No.1486) arrested, detained, and imprisoned plaintiffs on charges of illegal possession of firearms. However, the police officers planted a fire arm in the motor vehicle in which plaintiffs were passengers.
Cullins, Desmond vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 800440/2022E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, February 3, 2022, ended February 28, 2023
$22,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 20, 2021, without legal justification, Defendants, P.O. STEPHEN BARRY, P.O. BENITO CRUZ, and SERGEANT WILLIAM MILLER handcuffed plaintiff DESMOND CULLINS and threatened him with the possible use of firearms and the use of physical force. Plaintiff was then wrongfully arrested and imprisoned until the dismissal of his charges on or about September 20, 2021.
Mcneill, James vs City of Ny, et Al,
Case # 814529/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, October 26, 2021, ended May 27, 2022
$45,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 20, 2020, at approximately, 8:30 p.m., the Plaintiff, James McNeill was
lawfully in the vicinity of East 135th Street and Cypress Avenue, County of the Bronx, City and State of New York and doing nothing illegal, improper or acting suspicious in anyway, when the Defendants, NYPD Police Officers Stephen Barry (shield #17142), Benito Cruz (shield #1486), Sergeant William Miller (shield #3280) , and P.O. Jon Doe and John Roe (identities unknown), absent an arrest warrant, probable cause, reasonable suspicion or any legal justification, approached
Mr. McNeill for no reason, and stopped, searched, grabbed, assaulted and detained him in an excessive manner. The Defendants then transported Mr. McNeill to a...
Delgado, Jarrett vs City of Ny
Case # 814092/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, October 18, 2021, ended March 2, 2022
$25,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 2, 2020, Plaintiff was approached by P.O.s including Officers Daniel Mardjonovic and Benito Cruz and stopped, searched, grabbed, assaulted, battered, and detained. In the course of the arrest, Plaintiff was handled in an egregious manner and experienced injury to the head, neck, back, body and limbs. Plaintiff was subjected to a strip search and remained incarcerated for over 24 hours. After being prosecuted on false charges, all charges against Plaintiff were terminated favorably.
Grant, Fitzroy vs City of Ny, et al.
Case # 802122/2021E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, February 25, 2021, ended April 27, 2022
$17,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On October 26, 2019, in an unspecified location, Defendants Officers Benito Cruz and Reuben Serrano falsely arrested Plaintiff Fitzroy Grant and accused him of criminal possession of a weapon. Defendant Officers handcuffed Plaintiff and threatened him with the use of possible physical force and took Plaintiff to the 40th precinct, and finally to Bronx Central Booking for arraignment.
Grant, Johnathan vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 030730/2020E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, October 13, 2020, ended April 27, 2022
$17,500 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about October 26, 2019 POs Benito Cruz and Ruben Serrano approached Plaintiff, accused him of criminal possession of a weapon, then arrested, detained, and imprisoned him under threat of weapons, firearms, and physical force. A criminal court complaint against Plaintiff was subsequently filed. After significant expense and incurring debt, Plaintiff achieved a favorable dismissal of the charges on December 11, 2019.