A woman is taking legal action against a county and its police department, alleging a violation of her civil rights due to excessive force used by an officer.
On August 28, 2025, Varicaka Wilson filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the County of Nassau, Long Beach Police Department, Officer Robert Rooney, and unnamed officers. The case highlights serious accusations of police misconduct and raises questions about accountability within law enforcement.
The incident occurred on May 31, 2024, when Ms. Wilson was involved in an altercation outside a Rite Aid store in Long Beach, New York.
According to the complaint, while attempting to protect her sister from an unruly crowd, Ms. Wilson became embroiled in a physical confrontation. During this chaos, Officer Robert Rooney allegedly intervened not by de-escalating the situation but by using unnecessary force against Ms. Wilson.
The complaint details how Officer Rooney reportedly grabbed Ms. Wilson and slammed her head into the concrete sidewalk without provocation or justification. This act left Ms. Wilson with significant injuries including a concussion and muscle spasms.
Ms. Wilson's legal team argues that this incident is part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the Nassau County Police Department and its affiliates. They claim that there is a systemic failure to address police abuse and hold officers accountable for their actions.
The complaint cites several alleged deficiencies in how complaints against officers are handled, suggesting that investigations are biased towards exonerating officers regardless of evidence to the contrary.
In response to these events, Ms. Wilson is seeking substantial damages from the court: $3 million for each cause of action listed in her complaint, totaling $18 million in compensatory damages alone.
Additionally, she seeks $15 million in punitive damages along with injunctive relief to prevent future violations of federal law by the defendants.
The case has been assigned Case ID 2:25-cv-04813.
Source: 225cv04813_Wilson_v_County_of_Nassau_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf