Woman files $11.3M lawsuit against Yonkers police

A woman is suing the Yonkers Police Department for $11.3 million after a video appears to show her getting slammed to the ground by an officer. Irma Marquez, the woman in the video, filed the suit against

News 12 Staff

May 30, 2008, 11:44 PM

Updated 5,819 days ago

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Woman files $11.3M lawsuit against Yonkers police
A woman is suing the Yonkers Police Department for $11.3 million after a video appears to show her getting slammed to the ground by an officer. Irma Marquez, the woman in the video, filed the suit against the police department, 10 officers at the scene of the alleged incident and the City of Yonkers.
The video was recorded March 3 at La Fonda Restaurant on Palisade Avenue. It appears to show Officer Wayne Simoes slamming Marquez to the ground.
According to Marquez?s lawyers, Yonkers police were called after Marquez's niece was attacked by a restaurant patron. The lawyers say at one point in the video, Marquez was pulled aside and exchanged words with police officers. News 12 Westchester was unable to hear what was said because the video has no sound.
The lawyers say an officer, identified as Simoes, is then seen clutching Marquez from behind and throwing her to the ground.
Marquez became unconscious and was then handcuffed and charged with disorderly conduct and obstruction of governmental administration, according to the lawyers.
On May 9, a jury in Yonkers acquitted Marquez of all charges.
Marquez suffered a fractured jaw, concussion, two black eyes, facial lacerations and bruises when she hit the floor, say her lawyers.
The lawsuit comes at a time when the Yonkers Police Department is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department over allegations of ?systemic police brutality.?
Last summer, the City of Yonkers paid $113,000 in two separate brutality cases.
Yonkers police said they do not comment on pending litigation and declined to address the video and lawsuit.
For more on the video, click here


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