A Brooklyn resident has filed a lawsuit against the City of New York, alleging false arrest and other civil rights violations. Maurice Scarboro initiated the complaint on October 24 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, naming the City of New York and unidentified police officers as defendants.
The lawsuit concerns an incident on November 8, 2023, in which Scarboro claims he was arrested without cause by NYPD officers at a bodega in Brooklyn. The complaint states that Scarboro was forcibly handcuffed and subjected to a search that revealed no contraband, but he was nonetheless detained at the precinct and charged with criminal possession and sale of controlled substances. These charges were dismissed in April and May 2024. Scarboro alleges that his arrest was part of a broader pattern of racial profiling by the NYPD and accuses the officers involved of fabricating evidence and giving false statements to prosecutors, resulting in what he describes as malicious prosecution.
The lawsuit outlines several causes of action under federal law, including claims of false arrest, unlawful search, and seizure, excessive force, malicious prosecution, fabrication of evidence, denial of a fair trial, failure to intervene by officers present, and inadequate training or supervision by the city. Scarboro also alleges violations under the New York State Constitution and includes claims of assault and battery. He seeks compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress, loss of liberty, financial losses, and reputational harm associated with these alleged actions.
Scarboro is represented by attorney Ugochukwu Uzoh of The Law Offices of Ugo Uzoh P.C., based in Brooklyn. The case is assigned Case No. 24 CV 7447.