Paterson settles mother, daughter’s excessive force lawsuit | Paterson Times Paterson Times

Paterson settles mother, daughter’s excessive force lawsuit

By Jayed Rahman
Published: March 15, 2016

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The city’s governing body settled an excessive force lawsuit filed by a mother and her daughter who alleged two police officers conducted a warrantless search and seizure of their home, according to court documents.

Council members approved $3,000 to settle the federal lawsuit filed by Anald S. Lopez and Antonia Lopez last Tuesday.

The daughter Anald Lopez and the mother Antonia Lopez alleged police officers Christopher Ravallese and Kevin Kunzig used excessive force when they allegedly broke down the family’s apartment door February 5th, 2011 to conduct a search, according to court records.

At about 10 p.m. on that date, the two police officers allegedly kicked in the apartment door. Anald Lopez was pushed against the wall and handcuffed. Her mother was pushed away by the officers, according to court documents.

The lawsuit also alleges the police officers did not identify themselves prior to breaking down the door. The officers responded to a call of loud music coming out of an apartment, according to the lawsuit.

Anald Lopez “was arrested on [sic] a night gown and pants [sic] no coat in a [sic] frozing [sic] night,” reads the complaint.

Police allegedly searched the entire apartment and took an old samurai sword from the closet.

When the two officers were asked whether they had a warrant, the two officer “got angrier” and allegedly pushed Anald Lopez, telling her to “shut-up, Mexican spic.”

Anald Lopez, responded at the derogatory remark, “I informed him I was born a U.S. citizen,” reads the lawsuit.

The mother and daughter sued for false arrest, excessive use of force, and search and seizure without warrant or consent, according to the lawsuit.

Council members voted to approve the $3,000 settlement which was inside a package of other resolutions.

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