Men sue over snowball arrest

[jnelsoninjax]

NEW YORK, March 10 (UPI) -- Four young New York men charged with criminal possession of a weapon are suing police for false arrest following an incident that started with a snowball.

Johnathan Rodriguez, 22, Manuel Rondon, 18, Christian Perez, 19, and Ariel Lopez, 17, said they were playing in the snow during a February storm when a snowball got away from them and struck a man in the leg, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

The young men said the man, who they claim did not identify himself as off-duty transit Officer Adonis Ramirez, pulled out his gun and aimed at it at them.

"I thought he was some drug dealer who was going to shoot me in the head and walk away," Perez said. "We only hit him once, and it was by mistake."

Ramirez called for backup and the men, along with a 15-year-old whose name was not released, were arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon. The charges against the 15-year-old were dropped in Family Court.

Neil Wollerstein, a lawyer for the men, said he is planning a $10 million lawsuit against the city for false arrest and malicious prosecution.

The criminal complaint against the group says Ramirez was walking from a friend's apartment to his car when the young men hit him with several snowballs. The complaint says Ramirez drew his gun and identified himself as an officer after the group began running toward him and he heard one say, "Let's jump him," in Spanish.

However, the men said only one member of the group speaks Spanish.

Source

[Growled Member]

I'm not a bit surprised. The police takes everything the wrong way these days, it seems like. Long gone are the days when they are here to "serve and protect."

[FloatingFatMan]

I'm not a bit surprised. The police takes everything the wrong way these days, it seems like. Long gone are the days when they are here to "serve and protect."

Oh, they DO still "Serve and Protect".... Themselves.

[Steven P. Administrators]

And this is a country that's going to start charging tourists $10 to enter, using the visa waiver to fund a "Come to America" campaign :/

[DavidM]

I think this is one time I have to agree with filing a lawsuit, drawing a weapon on and arresting people for a snowball attack is way over the line. I'm amazed the transit cop got another officer or officers to go along with him to arrest them. I'd like to think that when back-up arrived they would have had cooler heads and diffused the situation, long enough to send them on their way.

Even if you believe his story, why would you draw your weapon? Hell, pick up some snow and throw back or just tell them you don't have time to join in the snowball fight.

[itzwolf]

Talk about a chicken **** officer. I mean come on it's a snowball and kids are playing. I hope they win the lawsuit!

[farmeunit]

I definitely don't agree with pulling a gun, but you should have enough respect for people not to hit them with snowballs. There are too many people that think only about themselves, and don't give a damn about anyone else. They were carrying a firearm also, but no one seems to care about that. There could be a lot more to that story than anyone knows.

[Solid Knight]

His story is that he pulled the gun on them they, unarmed, yelled "Jump him!" and ran towards him? ...Right.

[Growled Member]

And this is a country that's going to start charging tourists $10 to enter, using the visa waiver to fund a "Come to America" campaign :/

Sheesh, we should be charging at least $20. :p

[iamwhoiam]

I definitely don't agree with pulling a gun, but you should have enough respect for people not to hit them with snowballs. There are too many people that think only about themselves, and don't give a damn about anyone else. They were carrying a firearm also, but no one seems to care about that. There could be a lot more to that story than anyone knows.

Your point?

Because the officer, and I use that term loosely, was hit with a snowball, gives him the right to hold people at gunpoint? Someone that willing to pull a weapon doesn't need to be an officer of the law. I, personally, hope the city looses the suit.

[farmeunit]

Your point?

Because the officer, and I use that term loosely, was hit with a snowball, gives him the right to hold people at gunpoint? Someone that willing to pull a weapon doesn't need to be an officer of the law. I, personally, hope the city looses the suit.

I also said I didn't agree with him pulling the gun. Were you there? Of course the guilty person is going to say it's not their fault. Maybe the cop saw the gun, maybe it was just a reaction to being hit with something and pulling it out before looking. That's still a bad move, but could be instinct.

The complaint says Ramirez drew his gun and identified himself as an officer after the group began running toward him and he heard one say, "Let's jump him," in Spanish

You must have missed that part also.

I'm not a big fan of cops, but people acting like punks all the time think they can do whatever they want and doesn't affect anyone else isn't right either.