A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against a local village and its police department, alleging false arrest and racial discrimination. Narcisse Gnapi, a New York Police Department detective, filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on November 5, 2024, naming the Village of Freeport and its police department as defendants.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on September 7, 2023. Gnapi, a resident of Nassau County, visited the Village Hall in Freeport to resolve a parking ticket issue. After paying for the ticket, he discovered two new tickets on his vehicle upon returning. When he attempted to address this with village clerks—referred to as "Village John Does"—he was arrested by unidentified police officers named "PO John Does." The arrest was made without probable cause or any evidence of criminal activity.
Gnapi claims that his arrest was racially motivated. He claims that during his detention, attempts were made by both village clerks and police officers to fabricate charges against him. The lawsuit alleges violations of his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution, citing false arrest, equal protection violations, due process violations under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, racial profiling under 42 U.S.C. § 1981, failure to supervise and intervene by the defendants, and other related accusations.
As a result of these events, Gnapi suffered significant personal and professional harm including mental anguish, public humiliation, economic hardship due to lost business opportunities and an internal affairs investigation at his workplace. He is seeking damages totaling at least $8 million across multiple causes of action along with punitive damages and attorney’s fees.
The plaintiff's legal representation is led by Pablo A. Fernandez from Horn Wright LLP based in Garden City Plaza in New York. Case I.D. 2:24-cv-07727.