Illegal Search and Seizure Attorney Queens

Your home, your car, and your personal belongings are protected by the Constitution. When Queens police search without legal authority, I fight back—suppressing evidence in criminal court and pursuing damages for your violated rights.

How I've Helped Queens Residents

The Moment Police Violate Your Personal Space

The shock hits you first. Officers demanding entry to your home. You’re pulled over and watching police tear apart your vehicle. Standing on a Queens street while officers empty your pockets and bag.

The humiliation when neighbors or passersby witness the search makes everything worse.

You protest. You ask questions. Officers dismiss everything you say. The feeling of helplessness when they ignore your rights is overwhelming. They treat you like you don’t deserve basic dignity.

Searches in Queens happen across all communities. From Flushing to Rockaway, from Jackson Heights to Forest Hills. No neighborhood is immune.

This violation changes how you feel about your own space. Your home doesn’t feel like a sanctuary anymore. Getting pulled over triggers anxiety. Your sense of security is gone.

I’m so sorry this happened to you. You deserved better.

+1 (718) 662 8265

What You Lose When Police Overstep

Criminal charges that may have never existed without the illegal search. That’s the most immediate consequence. But there’s more:

Property destroyed or damaged during the search

Personal items confiscated that you may never get back

Cost of criminal defense to fight charges based on tainted evidence

Time away from work for court appearances

Damage to relationships with family members who were present

The psychological impact follows you everywhere. Anxiety in your own home. Fear during traffic stops. Constantly looking over your shoulder.
The Fourth Amendment exists precisely to prevent this invasion. Even if officers claim they “found something,” the method matters. How they found it matters.
Your rights were violated. That violation has real consequences, and you deserve compensation for the harm they caused.

What the Law Requires Before Police Can Search

Here’s the Fourth Amendment in plain language: You have protection against unreasonable searches.

The general rule is simple. Police need a warrant issued by a judge. That warrant must describe with specificity what they’re searching for and where they’re allowed to look.

The exceptions are limited:

Must be truly voluntary. If you felt coerced or threatened, it’s not valid consent.

The item must be immediately apparent as evidence or contraband. They can’t move things around to see better.

A traffic stop doesn’t automatically allow a search. They need probable cause that the car contains evidence of a crime.

Limited pat-down for weapons only. Not a fishing expedition for drugs or other items.

You have the right to refuse searches. You have the right to ask “Am I free to go?”

Section 1983 of federal law provides a remedy when your rights are violated. That’s how you hold police financially accountable for what they did.

Challenge the Search, Protect Your Future

An illegal search can destroy your criminal case and violate your civil rights. Whether police searched your home without a warrant, your car without cause, or your person without justification, you have legal options.

I’ll fight to suppress the evidence and pursue compensation for the constitutional violation you suffered.

I start with a comprehensive review of all circumstances leading to the search. If a warrant exists, I obtain the search warrant and the supporting affidavit.

Then I challenge the warrant's validity. Was the probable cause sufficient? Was the warrant too broad? Did officers exceed its scope?

If the search was warrantless, I examine which exception officers claim and whether it actually applies. Most of the time, it doesn't.

I submit FOIL requests for body camera and dash cam footage. Video evidence often contradicts what officers wrote in their reports.

I interview witnesses about what officers said and did. Witness testimony can be powerful evidence that the search was illegal.

I file detailed motions to suppress in criminal court with specific legal arguments tailored to your case. While that's happening, I'm simultaneously building your civil rights case for damages.

I have experience with Queens precincts:

104th Precinct (Ridgewood, Middle Village, Glendale)
105th Precinct (Queens Village, Cambria Heights)
108th Precinct (Long Island City, Sunnyside)
109th Precinct (Flushing, Whitestone, Bay Terrace)
110th Precinct (Elmhurst, Corona)
111th Precinct (Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck)
112th Precinct (Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens)
113th Precinct (Jamaica, Hollis, St. Albans)
114th Precinct (Astoria, Long Island City)
115th Precinct (Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst)

I've had success in Queens criminal courts and federal court (EDNY). I know how to win these cases.

Criminal suppression:

When evidence is excluded, charges are often dismissed. Without their key evidence, prosecutors can't prove their case. Sometimes they offer a favorable plea deal instead because their case is weak.

Civil damages:

Compensation for the rights violation itself, including:

Recovery for property damage or loss
Damages for emotional trauma and invasion of privacy
Compensation for any physical injuries during the search
Punitive damages when officers knowingly violated clearly established law

Even partial victories matter. Limiting the scope of evidence admitted can reduce charges or improve plea offers.

Your civil case can succeed even if the criminal suppression motion is denied. Different legal standards apply. Different burdens of proof.

Critical Deadlines in Search and Seizure Cases

The suppression motion must be filed early in criminal proceedings. Wait too long and the court won’t hear it.

You have 90 days to file a Notice of Claim for civil lawsuits against NYC. This deadline is absolute. No exceptions.

Video evidence may be automatically deleted after 30 or 90 days, depending on the type of incident. Warrant affidavits and police paperwork become harder to obtain over time.

Officers coordinate their stories as time passes. Their reports get more detailed. Their testimony becomes more polished.

Immediate legal action preserves maximum options. Your criminal attorney and civil rights attorney should work together from the start.

I handle both aspects so nothing falls through the cracks. You get one attorney who understands both the criminal and civil sides of your case.

Defending Fourth Amendment Rights Across Queens

I spent 8 years as an NYPD detective. I have deep experience with Queens precincts and their search practices. I understand the diverse Queens neighborhoods and the unique challenges residents face.

I have a track record of successful suppression motions in Queens courts. I have proven results in civil rights cases against NYPD.

I come to you if needed. Accessible representation matters. Bilingual services are available for Queens’ diverse population.

For civil cases, I work on contingency. No upfront costs. You don’t pay unless I win.

Every illegal search matters, regardless of what was found. Your dignity matters. Your constitutional rights matter. And I’m going to fight for both.

Queens Search and Seizure Questions

What is "probable cause" for a search?

Probable cause means reasonable grounds to believe a search will uncover evidence of a crime. It’s more than a hunch but less than certainty. It must be based on specific facts, not generalizations or stereotypes. A judge determines whether probable cause exists before issuing a warrant.

Can police search my phone?

Generally, police need a warrant to search your phone. Even if you’re arrested, officers cannot search your phone without a warrant. Password-protected phones have strong constitutional protection. If they searched your phone without a warrant, that evidence should be suppressed.

What if police had a warrant but searched the wrong apartment?

Warrants must be executed at the correct address. If police searched the wrong apartment, that search may be illegal. Whether it can be excused depends on whether their mistake was reasonable under the circumstances. Often, it’s not reasonable and the search is invalid.

Do I have to let police in if they knock on my door?

No. You don’t have to open your door or consent to entry without a warrant. There are exceptions for genuine emergencies, but those are narrow. You can speak through the door and ask if they have a warrant. If they don’t, you can refuse entry.

What happens at a suppression hearing?

A suppression hearing is before a judge, not a jury. Both sides present evidence. The officer testifies about why they conducted the search. You may testify about what actually happened. The judge decides if the search was legal. If illegal, the evidence is suppressed and can’t be used against you.

Can police search common areas of my apartment building?

Common areas like hallways and lobbies have less privacy protection than your apartment. Officers can generally access these areas. But they can’t search your apartment door, locked storage units, or your packages without a warrant or valid exception.

Can I record the police or ask them to turn on their body camera during a traffic stop?

Yes. You can and should ask the police to turn on their body camera. You should also always record (video or audio) the police during a traffic stop or if they are attempting to enter your home. It’s vitally important you focus on their shield number, name plate, license plate of the police car.

Your Privacy Rights Are Worth Fighting For

Fourth Amendment protections are fundamental. Illegal searches undermine both criminal justice and civil rights. You have options whether you’re facing charges or not. I offer free consultations to evaluate criminal and civil aspects with coordinated strategy. I work on contingency for civil claims. Years of experience with Queens cases.