A woman has filed a lawsuit against the City of New York and several NYPD officers, alleging claims of police brutality and racial discrimination.
The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Keyanna Moody names the City of New York and officers Lieutenant Daniel Lacalamita, Sergeant Stanislav Zubyk, Police Officers Michael R. Moran, Alvin M. Nieves, Jared W. Cordero, and unidentified officers as defendants. Moody claims that on June 11, 2024, she was operating her e-bike near Surf Avenue and West 15th Street in Coney Island. She alleges that she was unlawfully stopped by NYPD officers who accused her of operating a moped without a license plate—a claim she refutes as her e-bike did not require registration under New York law. The situation escalated rapidly when Officer Nieves allegedly snatched her e-bike keys without justification. Despite complying with commands to sit on a nearby bench to avoid conflict, Moody claims she was violently tackled by Officers Moran and Cordero after Lieutenant Lacalamita ordered her arrest.
Moody's complaint details how she was subjected to excessive force and racial abuse during the encounter. Officer Nieves allegedly attempted to deploy his taser multiple times before physically restraining her alongside other officers. As she lay handcuffed on the pavement, Officers Moran and Nieves are accused of using excessive force by stepping on her back and legs. The violence continued as Moody was shoved into a police vehicle while being verbally assaulted with racial slurs by Lieutenant Lacalamita.
The plaintiff asserts that these actions were motivated by racial animus and gender bias—allegations supported by statistical data indicating systemic racial disparities within NYPD practices. Moody's ordeal extended beyond physical abuse; she claims denial of medical care while detained at the precinct for over five hours despite visible injuries such as bleeding knees and torn clothing.
This lawsuit accuses the defendants of violating multiple constitutional rights under the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments—including unlawful seizure, excessive force, denial of medical care, and failure to intervene in misconduct. Moody claims that she has suffered lasting physical injuries and psychological trauma as a result of the incident.
Moody is seeking declaratory relief along with compensatory and punitive damages for these violations. She is represented by attorneys of the Sanders Firm P.C. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID: 1:25-cv-02155.