The
city agreed Wednesday to pay $150,000 to a Brooklyn career criminal who was
shot by a cop.
Andre
Raphael, 24, sued in Manhattan Federal Court, claiming the May 31, 2011,
shooting violated his civil rights. Court papers show the settlement came after
a mediation session.
Authorities
said Raphael tried to rob a 35-year-old on a Bed-Stuy street about 4:10 a.m.,
and indicated he had a gun. The victim fled, flagged down cops and pointed
Raphael out as the perp. Raphael was shot in both thighs.
In
May, Raphael pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and cocaine possession. At the
time of the shooting, police said Raphael had 26 prior arrests, 16 of them
sealed.
“The
involved police officers acted appropriately,” city lawyer Steven Silverberg
said. “There was reason to believe the plaintiff was armed and reaching for a
gun when they approached him. Given the inherent risks of litigation,
settlement was in the best interest of the parties.”