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Guyanese
Businesswoman Suing New York Police |
July 2001, New York City: Christine Persaud is suing the New York Police Department. Ms. Persaud, who is owner of Caring Inc, a school that trains health care worker is alleging wrongful arrest.
According to Ms. Persaud at about 6.30 Pm on Friday June 22nd. She closed her office, entered her car and proceeded along Liberty Avenue in Queens, on her way home. The office is located between 122nd and 123rd Street on Liberty Avenue.
At 128th Street, Ms. Persaud was stopped by a police officer, PO 7266 Lechnyn who 'roughly' ordered her to pull in the corner because she was playing the music in her car too loudly her car is a convertible and the top was down. The officer asked her for her licence which she provided and then informed her that she had an outstanding warrant.
"No," stated Ms Persaud when informed that the warrant was for a charge of playing music too loudly in her car in circumstances similar to one she was now in.
He ordered me out of my car and I said "no" stated Ms. Persaud. At that point the officer called for backup and "about eight' other policemen arrived on the scene. By this time a crowd had gathered and Ms. Persaud was totally embarrassed.
I'm a businesswoman, for God' sake," she stated. "And I run a charity in the Bronx. (Her charity distributed food to the needy). I'm in the public eye. All the people know me"
Ms. Persaud explained that the policemen proceeded to literally drag her out of her car and took her to the 106th precinct where she was placed in "a little cell".
According to Ms. Persaud she was roughly handled by the police and their tome of voice was loud and aggressive. They were "rude" and "piggish".
"I was very quiet, I didn't argue. I could not look at the people. I didn't know what to do".
By then Ms Persaud had already explained that the warrant had to be wrong as the case was dismissed. (This paper is in receipt of a Certificate of Disposition which shows that the case of the People of the State of New York vs Persaud, Christine was dismissed on 11/03/2000.
"At about nine'o clock they took me to central booking," said Ms. Persaud. There she was told that the computer was down and they could not check up on the case. Consequently she spent all night at Central booking. "They even took mug shots and my fingerprints," said Ms. Persaud.
At about three am she asked to call her lawyer, Dharmin Baichu. At about 6.30 am the next morning she was released without any explanation. To this date she has received no explanation, no apologies and no calls from the police.
After speaking to this paper, Ms. Persaud contacted attorney Jim Sheehan.
Mr Sheehan told this paper, "we assisted her in submitting a notice of claim and we will take her case."
Asked if the police had called his client to inform her about the status of the warrant for which she had been arrested, Mr. Sheehan said, "I guess we'll know that in court. They're not telling us anything".