Named in 5 known lawsuits, $95,000 total settlements.
Gadsden, Sean vs P.O. Lizardo, Jose, et al.
Case # 034166/2018E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, March 4, 2019
Complaint
Description: The plaintiffs were inside a house when the certain police officers including POs Jose Lizardo, Peter Schulz, Tashida Wilson, Sean Destefano, Joseph Burckhard, Terence Blumenberg, Claude Mede and Detectives James Simpson, William Miller and Javier Aponte, entered the house unlawfully despite the fact that the plaintiffs informed the POs that it was not their apartment. The defendants then illegally strip-searched the plaintiff and both plaintiffs were then unlawfully handcuffed, arrested and transported against their will to the 47th Precinct where they were searched, photographed, fingerprinted and detained in a filthy holding cell for many hours. The plaintiffs were then taken to Bronx Central Booking. All ch...
Vasquez, Jorge vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 020863/2019E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, January 23, 2019, ended December 7, 2020
$20,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about April 1, 2017, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Jorge Vasquez was near 789 East 183rd Street in Bronx, New York, when he was approached by police officers, including Officer Sean DeStefano, Officer John Doe, and Officer John Roe. The lawsuit alleges that these officers, without an arrest warrant, probable cause, or any legal justification, assaulted, frisked, and detained Vasquez using excessive force. Despite his lawful presence, Vasquez was subjected to a strip search, falsely accused of crimes, and maliciously prosecuted. He was incarcerated for over 24 hours and forced to make multiple court appearances before the charges were dismissed.
The complaint further alleges that Vasquez suffered physical a...
Santiago, Justin et al. vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 031385/2017E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, March 22, 2018, ended April 22, 2022
$15,000 Settlement
Complaint
Description: On or about August 31, 2016, Plaintiffs were inside of an apartment not engaged in any illegal behavior when when P.O.s including Officer Sean Destefano arrested and handcuffed them. Plaintiffs were transported to the precinct and held in a cell for several hours before being moved to cCentral Booking. Inside of the cell at Central Booking where they were placed with other individuals, Plaintiffs were subjected to harassment. The following day, plaintiffs Santiago and Marrero were released after the D.A.’s office declined to prosecute their arrests. Plaintiffs Amadeo, Marrero, and Ruiz were arraigned and charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree and unlawful possession of ...
V., M., an Infant By Mng Vargas, Danilda vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 036488/2017E,
Supreme Court - Bronx, January 8, 2018
Complaint
Description: On June 2, 2016, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Plaintiff, an infant over the age of fourteen, was at 990 Bronx Park South, Bronx, New York, when several NYPD officers, including Detective Sean DeStefano, Sergeant Keith Geller, and Detective Doris Lopez, an others unamed officers N/H/A JOHN/JANE DOE I-III, entered the residence without a warrant or probable cause.
The officers allegedly used excessive force, grabbing, handcuffing, and seizing Plaintiff, causing physical and mental distress. Plaintiff did not consent to this contact, nor was there any legal justification for the officers' actions. During the encounter, officers allegedly pointed loaded firearms and used other objects to physically restrain and i...
Mcreynolds, Reginald vs City of New York, et al.
Case # 300732/2011,
Supreme Court - Bronx, February 25, 2011, ended April 1, 2020
$60,000 Settlement
Complaint