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So your probably sitting at home in the Bronx right now, still pissed off about what happened. Maybe you got grabbed outside the bodega on Fordham Road. Maybe cops from the 47th Precinct claimed you “looked suspicious” walking through Wakefield. Or maybe the Bronx Narcotics Unit decided YOU were there target for the day. Look, we get it. Your FURIOUS about being treated like a criminal in your own neighborhood. And honestly? You should be! Because the Bronx has some of the WORST false arrest statistics in NYC and you deserve compensation!
Let me give you the reality about false arrests in the Bronx – its absolutely OUT OF CONTROL. The Bronx Narcotics Unit alone has cost taxpayers MILLIONS in settlements. Detective Jodi Brown from Bronx Narcotics? 30 lawsuits costing $1,244,500! Detective Anthony Disimone? Another 30 lawsuits costing $672,503! These cops are literaly serial false arresters and there still on the job!
Between routine violence, warrantless searches, strip searches, and arrests without any probable cause – Bronx precincts treat residents like criminals just for existing. In almost EVERY settlement case, the criminal charges were completly dropped because they were bogus from the start. Cops know they can arrest you for nothing, ruin your life, and face zero consequences.
The numbers are insane. In 2019 alone, NYPD misconduct lawsuits cost $68,688,423 – a 76% increase from the year before! And the Bronx gets hit especialy hard because cops think they can get away with more in our neighborhoods than in Manhattan. They patrol our streets like an occupying army, not public servants according to data from Bronx DA demographics.
Every Bronx precinct has issues, but some are absolutly terrible. The 47th Precinct covering Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, and Edenwald treats everyone like a suspect. The 44th in Morris Heights and Highbridge. The 42nd in Morrisania. The 40th in Mott Haven. Each one has there own history of violating peoples rights.
But the absolute WORST is the Bronx Narcotics Unit. These detectives operate across the entire borough and rack up lawsuit after lawsuit. Detective Jodi Brown alone has been sued 30 times! Think about that – one cop, 30 different false arrest lawsuits, still has a badge and gun. Its disgusting.
We’ve seen these units do “sweeps” where they arrest everyone on a corner, claim its drug-related with zero evidence, hold people for days, then release everyone when they can’t prove anything. Your guilty of being Black or Latino in the Bronx, nothing more. They know most people won’t sue, so they keep doing it.
The 47th Precinct and others publish there crime stats, but they don’t publish how many false arrests they make. Funny how that works, right? They’ll brag about arrests but hide how many were complete BS.
If your filing a lawsuit for false arrest in the Bronx, you need to know where to go. The main courthouse is at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451. That’s Bronx County Supreme Court where civil lawsuits against the NYPD get filed.
But remember – BEFORE you can file in court, you MUST file a Notice of Claim with the NYC Comptroller’s office within 90 DAYS! This isn’t filed in the Bronx – it goes to 1 Centre Street in Manhattan. Miss this deadline and your case is dead forever, doesn’t matter how bad the false arrest was.
For federal civil rights claims under Section 1983, you’ll file in Southern District of New York federal court. The closest federal courthouse to the Bronx is at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan. Federal cases have longer deadlines (3 years) but are more complex.
If your still facing criminal charges from the false arrest, that’s in Bronx Criminal Court at 215 East 161st Street. You need to deal with the criminal case carefully because what you say there affects your civil lawsuit later. That’s why you need lawyers who understand both sides.
The Bronx has its own special problems when it comes to false arrests. First, there’s the poverty issue – cops assume everyone in certain neighborhoods is a criminal. If your walking through Hunts Point or Soundview at night, your automaticaly suspicious to them. They use “high crime area” as an excuse for everything.
Second, the Bronx has aggressive anti-drug units that make tons of false arrests. They claim everyone is selling drugs with zero proof. “Furtive movements,” “suspicious bulge,” “acting nervous” – all BS excuses to search and arrest. We’ve seen cases where they arrested someone for “drug possession” that turned out to be legal CBD products!
Third, Bronx juries are different than Manhattan juries. More working class, more minorities, more people who’ve experienced police harassment themselves. This can actualy HELP your case because Bronx residents know how cops really operate. Manhattan juries might not believe cops lie – Bronx juries know better.
Language barriers are huge too. Bronx has large Spanish-speaking populations, and cops use language confusion to there advantage. They claim you “consented” to searches when you didn’t understand. They misquote what you said. They arrest you for not following orders given in English you couldn’t understand.
Let me give you real numbers from actual Bronx cases, not fantasy. Detective Jodi Brown’s 30 lawsuits? Average of over $41,000 each. Detective Disimone? Average of $22,000 each. And these are just the ones that settled – some cases get way more at trial.
For regular people (not involving these serial violators), settlements vary: Few hours detained then released? $5,000-10,000. Overnight in custody? $10,000-20,000. Weekend in Rikers because of false arrest? $20,000-50,000. Beaten during false arrest? $50,000-200,000+. Serious injuries or long detention? Six figures possible.
But here’s what affects YOUR settlement in the Bronx: Do you have a criminal record? Prior arrests (even dismissed) lower value. Were you actualy doing ANYTHING that looked suspicious? Even legal activity can hurt your case. Did you mouth off to cops? Juries don’t like that. Do you have a job to lose? Employed plaintiffs get more money.
The Bronx factor works both ways. Bronx juries are sympathetic to false arrest victims, which helps at trial. But the city knows Bronx residents often need money quick, so they offer lowball settlements knowing people will take them. Don’t fall for it – fight for what your worth!
Where your case gets heard matters ALOT. Bronx Supreme Court at 851 Grand Concourse has judges who see false arrest cases every single day. Some are sympathetic because they know how NYPD operates in the Bronx. Others are former prosecutors who side with cops.
Manhattan courts get more media attention, which can help or hurt. High-profile case? Manhattan might be better. Regular false arrest? Bronx jury might be more sympathetic. Federal court is supposed to be neutral, but those judges are often former federal prosecutors who worked with NYPD.
Bronx judges know the local precincts and there histories. When we say “Detective Brown from Bronx Narcotics,” some judges roll there eyes because they’ve seen her name in dozens of lawsuits. That recognition can help your case. Manhattan judges might not know these repeat offenders.
Travel time matters too. If your witnesses live in the Bronx, getting them to Manhattan federal court is harder. Bronx Supreme Court is accessible by the 4, 5, 6, B, and D trains. Your witnesses are more likely to show up if they don’t have to travel far.
Living in the Bronx, you probably know someone who’s been falsely arrested. Here’s what we see constantly:
“Stop and Frisk” that becomes arrest when you object. Cops stop you for nothing, you ask why, they claim your “disorderly” and arrest you. Happends daily in the South Bronx.
Corner arrests where cops grab everyone standing outside. Doesn’t matter if your just talking to neighbors – they claim its “loitering for drugs” and arrest the whole group.
Fare beating accusations at subway stops. Cops at 161st Street-Yankee Stadium or Fordham Road claim you jumped the turnstile when you didn’t, arrest you when you argue.
If you’ve been falsely arrested in the Bronx, every minute counts. Here’s exactly what to do:
First, document your injuries immediately. Go to Lincoln Hospital, Montefiore, or any emergency room. Get photos of bruises, cuts, anything. Even if you feel fine, get checked – adrenaline hides injuries.
Second, get witness information before they disappear. People move, change numbers, forget. That bodega owner who saw everything? Get his contact info NOW. Other people arrested with you? Exchange information.
Third, file a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) complaint. You can do this online or at there Bronx office. It creates an official record even if CCRB does nothing (which they usualy don’t).
Fourth, request all records. Get your arrest report, criminal court file, booking photos, medical records from custody. File Freedom of Information requests for body cam footage, surveillance video, 911 calls. The city “loses” evidence that helps you, so request everything immediately.
Fifth, DO NOT talk to Internal Affairs or NYPD investigators without a lawyer. They’re not trying to help you – there gathering evidence to defend against your lawsuit. Anything you say will be twisted against you.
Knowing which judge you get matters enormously. Some Bronx Supreme Court judges are former civil rights attorneys who understand police abuse. Others are former prosecutors who think cops can do no wrong.
We track every judge’s history with false arrest cases. Who grants motions to dismiss? Who allows cases to trial? Who pushes settlements? This knowledge affects strategy. Some judges, we push for quick trial. Others, we negotiate hard for settlement.
Bronx juries are generaly good for false arrest cases. Working class people who’ve dealt with NYPD harassment themselves. They don’t automaticaly believe cops like some suburban juries might. But you still need to present your case right – Bronx juries don’t like whiners or people they think are gaming the system.
Federal judges are wildcards. Some are very protective of civil rights. Others grant qualified immunity to cops for almost anything. We research every judge’s prior rulings to know what arguments work with them.
Look, we know the Bronx. We know which precincts are the worst. We know which cops are serial violators. We know Detective Jodi Brown’s history of false arrests. We know the judges, the prosecutors, the whole system. This isn’t our first rodeo.
We also know Bronx residents often get treated like second-class citizens by other law firms. Big Manhattan firms don’t want to come to the Bronx. They don’t understand our communities. They think everyone from the Bronx must’ve done something wrong. Not us – we fight for Bronx residents like family.
We coordinate both your criminal defense AND civil lawsuit. Most lawyers only do one or the other. If your still facing charges from the false arrest, we make sure your criminal defense helps your civil case, not hurts it. We know both Bronx Criminal Court and Supreme Court.
Most importantly, we actualy take cases to trial when needed. The city knows most lawyers just want quick settlements. They know we’ll fight for years if necessary. We’ve taken on Bronx Narcotics, the 47th Precinct, all of them. They know we mean business.
Call us RIGHT NOW at 212-300-5196
Bronx residents deserve justice too!
Don’t let them get away with violating your rights just because your from the Bronx! Every day you wait, evidence disappears. That bodega surveillance video? Gets recorded over in 30 days. Witness memories? Fade fast. Your bruises? Heal and can’t be documented.
The NYPD thinks they can do whatever they want in the Bronx. They think we won’t fight back. They think we’ll take whatever settlement crumbs they throw at us. Prove them wrong! Stand up for your rights and make them pay for what they did!
Disclaimer: Prior results don’t guarantee future outcomes. Settlement amounts vary based on specific facts. We serve all Bronx neighborhoods from Riverdale to Throgs Neck.
Very diligent, organized associates; got my case dismissed. Hard working attorneys who can put up with your anxiousness. I was accused of robbing a gemstone dealer. Definitely A law group that lays out all possible options and best alternative routes. Recommended for sure.
- ROBIN, GUN CHARGES ROBIN
NJ CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS