Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
I'm 16, I live in New York City. Yesterday, someone called the police saying I was about to commit suicide - WHICH I WASN'T! The police pounded on our door, and were probably about to break it down, when I opened it. They instantly pushed their way in, with NO WARRANT, after I told them there was NO REASON for them to be here at all. They wrestled me to the stairs, handcuffed me, knocked my $350.00 glasses off my face, breaking them, screamed in my seventy+ years grandmother's face and threatened to hit her unless she went back upstairs, and started squishing my foot HARD. I tried to wiggle it loose, and they said that I had tried to kick them.
They shoved me into the stoop railing, outside male organs first, hanging me upside down over the railing in front of all my neighbors, and hauled me off to the hospital, in the POURING RAIN, no shoes, no glasses. I have bruises on my arm and wrists. They REFUSED to listen to my side of the story, and when I tried to tell them, they immediately started talking loudly over me about the mets game.
I WANT THEIR BADGES. What do I do first?
Re: CLEAR violation of rights - what to do?
What did the hospital say or do for you?
Re: CLEAR violation of rights - what to do?
At first, of course, they listened to the cops, who said I was a dangerous guy who'd been out of control, and needed to be sedated as soon as my cuffs were off. But the nurses were nice enough to give me a chance first, and as I never once even raised my voice, they let me go in about two or three hours.
I just took digital photos of the bruises, and I'm writing down everything they said in the ambulance - including sexual cracks at me, my mother, and my grandmother.
Re: CLEAR violation of rights - what to do?
They can get away with the intrusion due to exigent circumstances. After that, it will depend on who and what is believable and what witnesses there are.
You can bet the police will have a different story than you but if what you say is actually correct, go get an attorney.
Re: CLEAR violation of rights - what to do?
There were both my grandmother and my mother. And of course, me. I have a strong feeling that that, plus the giant tomato-red bruises on my arms, will help me a lot.
Does anyone know where I can find precedents for this?
Re: Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
Who called the police, and what did they say you had been trying to do? Certainly you have some idea who called and what actions led to the call.
When responding to calls regarding someone attempting to harm themselves or someone else, the police are given a good deal of latitude - such as making warrantless entry to ascertain your condition.
There is almost certainly a report of some kind. If you think you were wronged, contact an attorney and see if they will review the facts of the matter for you.
- Carl
Re: Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
Okay, I was hoping I could leave this out...but I guess it is important...
It was my mother. We'd had a huge fight, and when we get bent out of shape, we both have medications we're supposed to take to calm ourselves. All medicine is always kept in her medicine cabinet, it her room. I took my pills, and decided to take the bottle out of her room and into mine. I figured that I'd need it again soon, and I didn't want to have to go back into her room to get it. She overreacted as usual, insisting that I only wanted the bottle to take all the pills and kill myself. She's not a very well woman...so she called them, then realized she was overreacting, called 911 back to call them off, but they were already here.
Re: Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
You take medication to calm down after a fight? Is this such a frequent event that the only way to calm down is to get medicated?
In any event, it is likely that with the information known to the officers at the time of the call they had the lawful right to detain you for an evaluation. However, if you wish to ascertain whether they did indeed have sufficient cause and utilized reasonable force, you will need to speak with an attorney.
- Carl
Re: Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
No, of course not every time we fight. Just if we ever really become anxious. I'd perfer not to get into details, but this was probably the worst one we ever had.
Re: Violation of rights by the police - what to do?
Sounds like the police are in the right here. I have noticed that police often do not realize the force they are using, adrenaline is running high ect. Also some people are just wimps....lol(not directing that at the poster just speaking in general)