New York City has agreed to pay
Michael Warren and his wife Evelyn $360,000 to settle accusations of police
brutality and wrongful arrest. The couple, both civil rights attorneys, alleged
they were assaulted when they tried to help a man they say was being beaten by
police officers.
The settlement was announced on
Monday, just hours before the civil trial was set to begin. Jonathan Moore, a
Manhattan injury attorney specializing in governmental misconduct, represented
the couple. He believes the settlement represents an "acknowledgement of
misconduct."
City attorneys were quick to
point out that no one has admitted wrongdoing. Nonetheless, the couple stands
by their story. They were driving through Brooklyn in June 2007 when they saw
several officers catch and handcuff a young black man, reports Reuters. It was
then they allegedly saw Sgt. Steven Talvy kick the man in the head.
They got out of the car and told
the officers to stop, but were ordered back to their vehicle. They did, but
when an officer noticed them taking down police license plate numbers, things
got heated. An officer allegedly pulled Michael Warren from his car and punched
him in the face, explains Reuters. He also punched Evelyn in the jaw.
The Warrens were then arrested
and charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction. The
charges were eventually dropped, but they sued.
Though their claims were
relatively strong and there appears to have been no reason for them to be
arrested (they returned to the vehicle when ordered to do so), Monday's
settlement isn't an invitation to get involved in police activity. Michael
Warren specializes in police misconduct cases and arguably knew what he was
doing. You probably don't.
So if you witness misconduct or
brutality as did Evelyn and Michael Warren, stand back. Consider taking a video
or photographs. Call 911 and tell them what you are witnessing. Get
documentation. Do something, but don't try to intervene. You'll just get
arrested yourself.