The NYPD recently settled a civil rights lawsuit filed by the victim of an unnecessary pepper spray attack. Jateik Reed was filming an incident of alleged police brutality in New York City when he was sprayed in the face by one of the men, arrested on charges that were later dropped, and held against his will in a New York precinct house.
The brawl that started a series of unfortunate events was recorded by Reed and shows four uniformed NYPD officers pinning an unarmed pedestrian to the ground and repeatedly striking him. Reed said that the officers later lied about the circumstances and the details of the alleged attack as well as what happened to him after he was transported to the precinct house.
In fact, details from court documents show that Reed was reportedly beaten in the police van and while in custody after he was arrested. Several members of Reed’s family who went to the precinct house to visit him allege that they were assaulted at the time as well.
Both the original instance of alleged brutality and the incidents of excessive force that Reed says came in the van and precinct house happened in New York’s 42nd precinct-a precinct that has come under increasing public scrutiny in recent months after a number reported incidents of police misconduct including an officer recorded shooting dice on the sidewalk and several instances of individuals claiming to have been forced to lie in criminal cases.
Reed sued the NYPD but the case never made it to court. The department settled before the trial and Reed was awarded a sum of over $600,000.
If you’ve been the victim of excessive force or police brutality in New York City the law is on your side. But having an experienced New York City excessive force lawyer on your side is the best way to protect your rights and get the compensation you may deserve.