A former police officer is suing the City of New York and NYPD officers, alleging that fabricated evidence was used to falsely implicate him in a gun possession case.
The lawsuit filed by plaintiff Shiloh Brown names the city and officer Miguel Vanbrakle as defendants. According to the complaint, on October 19, 2023, Officer Vanbrakle executed a search warrant at the residence of Brown’s former girlfriend, Shanel Jackson. During the search, Vanbrakle allegedly located a revolver belonging to Jackson’s grandfather and placed Brown’s identification card next to it to suggest a link between Brown and the firearm. This led to Brown’s arrest and indictment on charges including criminal possession of a weapon. DNA testing reportedly revealed no connection between Brown and the revolver, but he remained under prosecution for more than 400 days before all charges were dismissed on December 6, 2024.
The complaint alleges that Vanbrakle provided false statements in police reports and grand jury testimony to secure an indictment. Brown claims these actions caused emotional distress, loss of liberty, and incarceration at Rikers Island, as well as ongoing legal proceedings stemming from the alleged fabricated evidence.
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages under federal law (42 U.S.C. §1983) and state law, punitive damages against the defendants, attorney’s fees under 42 U.S.C. §1988(b), and injunctive relief. It also asserts that the City of New York is liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney Alexander Klein of Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco LLP. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under case ID 25-cv-4253.