Latino Teen Files $2M suit against Monticello, 4 officers

From [HERE] A Monticello teen has filed a multimillion-dollar federal lawsuit against the village and four unnamed police officers, claiming he was arrested without cause, then roughed up by police. Santiago Acevedo Jr. filed on May 22 in the U.S. District Court Southern District.

The lawsuit claims police officers had no probable cause to arrest Acevedo, then 17, in February 2011, entered his home without first obtaining an arrest warrant, and violated his rights under the 4th Amendment from unlawful search and seizure and also excessive force. Acevedo has asked for a jury trial and is seeking $1 million in compensatory and $1 million in punitive damages. Acevedo filed a claim a year ago.

Acevedo hired Queens attorney Alan D. Levine, who said the teen had a tooth knocked out and other teeth that were damaged and had to be pulled, and that he also had a laceration requiring stitches.

"They had no business beating him up in the station house," Levine said.

The complaint claims the following: On Feb. 26, 2011, Acevedo took a cab home between 6 and 7 a.m.; he was intoxicated and didn't pay the cab fare. The teen went up to his second-floor bedroom, stripped down to boxer shorts and a tank top and went to bed.

Soon after, an officer knocked on the bedroom door. Acevedo opened the door, saw the officer and closed the door. The officer then pushed open the door, cuffed Acevedo from behind, arrested him, and took him to the station while still in his boxers.

The complaint says the 5-foot-4-inch, 110-pound Acevedo was held for about 12 hours, while "one or more of the defendants "¦ struck him, battered him and pushed his face into a wall in such a manner as to cause serious injury to his mouth, teeth and face."

Acevedo was charged with theft of services, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.

The charges were ultimately dismissed after he completed alcohol treatment, according to court papers. The lawsuit claims Acevedo continues to suffer emotional and physical injuries.