A New York resident has filed a lawsuit against the City of New York and several police officers, alleging unlawful entry and detention. The complaint names the City of New York and multiple officers from the New York City Police Department as defendants.
According to the complaint, Je’ Jae Daniels, a non-binary Jewish artist residing in Queens, was celebrating Yom Kippur on October 4, 2022, when NYPD officers allegedly entered their apartment without a warrant. The officers claimed they had received a report indicating Daniels had made a social media post suggesting self-harm. Daniels denied making any such post and stated they posed no threat to themselves or others, but the officers proceeded to take them to NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens for psychiatric evaluation. The complaint asserts that this conduct violated Daniels’ civil rights under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
The lawsuit further alleges discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It also claims violations of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, citing unlawful seizure, excessive force, and failure to intervene by other officers present during the incident.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for psychological distress and financial losses, as well as punitive damages intended to deter future misconduct. The complaint also requests attorneys’ fees, court costs, and any additional relief deemed appropriate.
The plaintiff is represented by attorney David B. Rankin of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case ID 1:25-cv-05576.