A former Brooklyn resident has taken legal action against the City of New York and its police department claiming that he was arrested under false pretenses.
According to the lawsuit, plaintiff Michael Shephard was arrested on March 24, 2007 by Officer Jerry Bowens under false pretenses. Bowens claimed to have found crack-cocaine on Shephard's person—a claim that was later proven false. According to Shephard, Bowens planted drugs on him and conspired with other officers to falsify reports and testimony. This led to Shephard’s indictment on charges he insists were entirely fabricated. The lawsuit alleges grave violations of civil rights under 42 U.S.C. §1983 and constitutional amendments due to malicious prosecution and fabricated evidence leading to his wrongful conviction.
Shephard claims that his conviction was not isolated and was part of a broader pattern of misconduct within the NYPD. His case allegedly emerged from a culture where arrest quotas allegedly pressured officers into unethical behavior, including fabricating charges against innocent individuals. In 2022, as part of an extensive review by Kings County District Attorney's office, numerous convictions linked to discredited officers like Bowens were vacated—highlighting systemic corruption within the force.
Shephard is seeking compensatory damages for his wrongful incarceration and emotional distress caused by this ordeal. His plea deal resulted in a year-long sentence based on fraudulent charges—a decision he made out of fear of facing even harsher penalties if convicted at trial. Now exonerated after his conviction was vacated in November 2022, Shephard aims to hold accountable those responsible for violating his rights.
The complaint underscores failures at multiple levels: from individual misconduct by Officer Bowens—who was later convicted for unrelated crimes including murder—to institutional negligence by the NYPD and City officials who allegedly failed to supervise or discipline rogue officers adequately. These allegations point towards broader systemic issues within policing practices that have long been criticized for racial bias and abuse of power.
Shephard is demanding accountability from those who perpetuated these injustices while seeking monetary compensation for damages incurred during his wrongful imprisonment. He is represented by attorney Rudy Velez Esq. This case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:25-cv-01314.