YONKERS — Two teens arrested on burglary charges three years ago are suing the police and the city for $40 million in federal court.
The two, Angel Rivera and Andy Duprey, say they were beaten by police who allowed a police dog to attack them after they were arrested on South Broadway and accused of breaking into an auto repair shop.
Neil Grimaldi, a New York City lawyer, filed the suits, asking for $20 million for each plaintiff.
"They both admitted their guilt," Grimaldi said in announcing the lawsuits this week at Yonkers City Hall. "There was no reason for the police brutality."
Police Commissioner Charles A. Cola denied that the two, who were 15 when they were arrested on Feb. 28, 2000, were brutalized by police. He said a brutality complaint was made four months after the boys were arrested, and it was found to be "unsubstantiated" after an investigation by the department's Internal Affairs Division.
"What this case is about is two burglars who were caught in the act and had to be apprehended by our K-9 Unit because they refused to comply with a lawful order to surrender," Cola said, adding that both youths have been in trouble with the law since the burglary.
Grimaldi declined to specify why he waited three years to file the suit, other than saying that it was for "personal reasons" on the part of his clients. He declined to provide any information about the plaintiffs other than their names and that they live in Yonkers.
He said the burglary charges were dismissed in Family Court.
Cola said that a police dog pulled one of the boys from under a car and another from behind a car the night they were arrested. He said both were bitten by the dog, but not seriously.
Grimaldi said the dog was allowed to bite the boys after they were in custody, and that both teens were beaten by police. He said Duprey suffered a broken collarbone. The suit alleges that Rivera and Duprey were subjected to "unwarranted force" and suffered physical, emotional and mental injuries.
"What Mr. Grimaldi is going to find out is that we are not going to settle a frivolous lawsuit," the commissioner said. "We will vigorously defend the lawsuit until it is dismissed."
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.