A Suffolk County resident is seeking compensation after alleging that she was wrongfully arrested and prosecuted based on fabricated evidence following a domestic incident in her home. The complaint, filed by Rachel Buccola on March 24, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, names the County of Suffolk and multiple Suffolk County Police Department officers as defendants.
According to the court filing submitted by Horn Wright, LLP on behalf of Buccola, the plaintiff claims that her constitutional rights under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments were violated when she was arrested after calling 911 for assistance during a domestic dispute on March 25, 2023. The suit alleges that despite a documented history of abuse by her then-husband and previous service calls to their Commack residence, responding officers did not arrest him but instead arrested Buccola for child endangerment.
The complaint states that "Plaintiff BUCCOLA was subjected to arrest, criminal charges, and commencement of criminal proceedings based on perjurious testimony, material misrepresentations, and fabricated evidence presented by Defendants at the District Court of Suffolk County on or about March 25, 2023." It further details that similar evidence was used to initiate neglect proceedings against her in family court two days later. Both sets of proceedings were ultimately dismissed in Buccola's favor—criminal charges in April 2024 and the neglect petition in August 2024.
Buccola asserts that she was visibly injured when police arrived but was nonetheless taken into custody. She alleges that Officer Taylor Pelcher encouraged her husband to fabricate accusations against her. The filing quotes Pelcher as stating to D.Buccola: "I know it’s fake" regarding Ms. Buccola's statements and warning him about what she might claim so an arrest could be made.
The complaint describes how Buccola was handcuffed in front of her child during the arrest and processed at a precinct without being informed of her rights. She was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child under New York Penal Law §260.10(1), a class A misdemeanor. The document alleges there was no probable cause for these charges or for subsequent family court actions restricting her contact with her daughter.
Buccola claims that all defendants acted under color of law without justification or excuse. She contends that their actions included unlawful search and seizure during processing at police headquarters; malicious prosecution continued even after exculpatory evidence became available; fabrication of evidence; failure to intervene by other officers present; abuse of process; denial of due process; selective enforcement violating equal protection guarantees; and ongoing reputational harm.
The suit also criticizes systemic issues within Suffolk County’s handling of domestic violence cases. It cites alleged failures such as improper investigations into domestic incidents, disregarding victim testimony, manufacturing false reports or evidence, failing to discipline officers involved in misconduct, and maintaining policies or customs leading to unconstitutional arrests or prosecutions.
Buccola seeks compensatory damages not less than one million dollars per count from each defendant named in nine separate causes of action—including false arrest under Section 1983; unlawful search; malicious prosecution; fabrication of evidence; failure to intervene; abuse of process; due process violation; equal protection violation; and municipal liability (Monell claim) against Suffolk County itself. She also requests punitive damages against individual defendants where applicable as well as attorney’s fees pursuant to Title 42 §1988.
The case is identified as Docket No.: 2:26-cv-01756. Pablo A. Fernandez from Horn Wright LLP represents Rachel Buccola.
Source: 226cv01756_Buccola_v_County_of_Suffolk_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf