A wedding decorator is suing the Incorporated Village of Hempstead and several police officers from the Hempstead Police Department, accusing them of wrongfully arresting him and using excessive force.
The complaint, filed on January 7, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, stems from an incident on June 24, 2023, when Robert Brown was allegedly assaulted and arrested without cause while waiting for a bus after work.
According to the lawsuit, an unrelated argument broke out near Brown at the bus station, prompting police intervention. Despite being uninvolved, Brown was allegedly targeted by officers who aggressively demanded his identification and arrested him without probable cause.
One officer reportedly shouted aggressively, questioning Brown’s ability to hear, before accusing him of being a 'tough guy.' The situation escalated when multiple officers tackled Brown to the ground, resulting in a fractured elbow that required months of recovery.
Brown was later charged with Disorderly Conduct under Village Ordinance 95-2F, a charge that was dismissed in December 2023 by the Village Attorney.
The complaint details how the arrest and subsequent prosecution caused Brown not only physical pain but also emotional distress and financial losses due to missed work opportunities.
In the lawsuit, Brown accuses the defendants of false arrest, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, and excessive force under 42 U.S.C. §1983.
He argues that the officers acted with malice and without probable cause, and claims their actions violated his constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Brown is seeking compensatory damages for the physical, emotional, and financial harm he suffered, as well as punitive damages to deter future misconduct by law enforcement. He is also requesting attorney’s fees in accordance with federal law.
Representing Robert Brown are attorneys Aida Leisenring and Alexander Klein from Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco LLP. The case is under Case ID 2:25-cv-00155.