NYPD Cut Off Man's Underwear In Wash Heights Traffic Stop: Suit

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — A man is suing the city and multiple members of the New York Police Department alleging that officers in Upper Manhattan shoved their hands down his pants, cut off his underwear and exposed his private parts to the public.

Alexis Dela Cruz was driving on April 24, 2019, around 11 p.m. in the area of Fairview Avenue and Fort George Hill, near West 193rd Street, when police officers stopped his car.

The suit alleges that the officers "unlawfully" searched his vehicle — found no contraband — but still placed Cruz under arrest and put him in handcuffs.

The officers used "excessive force" when making the arrest, according to the suit. When Cruz told police they were hurting him, it "prompted further aggression from the defendants (police officers), who proceeded to touch and grab the plaintiff's (Cruz) private parts," reads the suit.

"The defendants then shoved their hands in PLAINTIFF’s pants, and proceeded to cut PLAINTIFF’s underwear, exposing him in public view," the suit continues.

When asked for comment by Patch, the New York Police Department said: "We will review the lawsuit if and when we are served."

Cruz was then taken to a police precinct, before getting transported to Manhattan Central Booking where he was arraigned.

While in custody, the officers made several "false allegations" against Cruz, according to the suit.

"He was released about spending an extended period of time in custody," according to the lawsuit. At no point does it specify just how long that period was, though.

Cruz says that as a result of the excessive force used by the officers, he sustained "serious personal injuries and emotional distress."

Cruz's criminal case was dismissed around June 2021.

"As a direct and proximate result of this unlawful conduct, PLAINTIFF sustained the loss of liberty, loss of earnings, emotional distress, mental anguish, shock, fright, apprehension, embarrassment, humiliation, deprivation of constitutional rights," reads the suit.

Cruz's legal team is asking for a compensatory and punitive amount of money to be determined at the trial.