False Arrest Attorney Bronx

You know you didn’t do what they arrested you for. The Bronx police forces’ wrongful arrest of you will steal your freedom while destroying your ability to achieve future success. The team at Lovelace Law protects Bronx citizens through legal battles against police misconduct.

Bronx Residents We've Helped

When Police Take Your Freedom Without Justification

The experience of being arrested while knowing your innocence creates a unique sense of powerlessness. You tell them they’re making a mistake. You explain what actually occurred.

They don’t care.

You might have been walking home or working at your job or picking up your children. It doesn’t matter because none of it justifies what they did to you. The handcuffs bite into your wrists. The police force pushes you into their vehicle while your neighbors observe and your family members become frantic.

I’m sorry this happened to you. I spent eight years as an NYPD detective, and I saw how arrests happen in the Bronx

Police officers reach their conclusions through speculation because they do not perform adequate investigative work
They treat people like criminals first and human beings never
The organization uses numerical targets instead of working to achieve precise results

You miss work. Court dates pile up. The stress prevents you from sleeping because all your hard work seems to be disappearing. And through all of it, you know none of this would be happening if the officers had done their job correctly.

The Bronx community experiences deep pain because of this betrayal which affects all areas from Fordham to Hunts Point and from Morrisania to Throggs Neck. The arrest of a person without proper reason by police officers represents more than a violation of established procedures. They’re violating you.

Physical evidence must exist according to law before anyone can take away your freedom:

Not assumptions based on where you live

Not stereotypes about how you look

Real concrete facts which prove to officers that you committed a particular crime exist

The entire structure that follows becomes unstable when this standard is not followed

The Real Cost of a False Arrest

I need to reveal all costs which stem from being falsely arrested. The arrest records become available to background check systems. Forever. A criminal record remains with you after charges disappear because it produces an enduring permanent record.

The job interview process remains successful until they perform background checks. Housing applications get denied. Professional licenses get questioned. Your employer doesn’t care about explanations. People tend to view them as arrested individuals before they can move past that point.

The stress creates problems which affect every part of life. Your family relationships strain. Your kids heard what happened. Your partner shows fear about financial issues and concerns about what the future will bring.

I understand what you’re going through. You lie awake replaying it:

Your heart starts racing whenever you spot police vehicles.
The situation creates two opposing emotions within you because you feel angry about the unfairness yet you have no way to modify the situation.
You doubt if you should believe in any person who holds power.

That’s not weakness. That’s trauma.

The financial devastation piles up fast. Bail bonds. Criminal defense attorney fees. Lost wages. Court costs. Transportation. Money you don’t have, spent on a situation that should never have happened.

People tend to believe that charge dismissal solves all problems when it happens. But you’re not free. You’re carrying all of this with you.

I can’t take away what happened. But I can help you hold them financially accountable for the harm they caused.

The Legal Protections Officers Ignored

The Fourth Amendment safeguards citizens from police arrests which happen without proper authorization. The police require probable cause which consists of actual specific details that would lead a normal person to believe you have committed a crime. Not a hunch. Not because you “looked suspicious.” Actual evidence.

I spent ten years working inside this system. The existence of probable cause requires direct evidence which links to a particular criminal offense. The location exists beyond its physical address because it represents a specific geographic area with its own unique characteristics.

The following situations do not provide police with authority to make an arrest.

Walking in the “wrong place”
The person displays signs of nervousness when the vehicle approaches
Being out late at night
Matching a general description

Mistaken identity arrests happen constantly in the Bronx. A police officer identifies a person who resembles the description he received although the match is not exact. The system exists to perform actual investigations which verify information.

The situation with retaliation arrests becomes even more severe. You have the right to record police work and you can ask for their reason to stop you and you can deny any illegal search they attempt. The police arrest you for obstruction of justice after you exercise your right to defend yourself. More recently, facial recognition technology has led to an increase of mistaken identity and false arrest.

That’s illegal. Period.

Section 1983 allows citizens to pursue legal action against police officers who violate their constitutional rights. New York State law provides additional protection. These aren’t just words. They’re tools I use to fight back.

Your rights exist regardless of your background or neighborhood. The Constitution guarantees equal protection to all citizens and I dedicated my professional life to understand how to turn this guarantee into actual practice.

Take Back Your Power

False arrest represents more than an error because it needs appropriate penalties for such actions. You have legal choices available when police arrest you without proper reason in the Bronx. I will review your arrest records to demonstrate that your arrest was unjustified while working to obtain financial reimbursement and legal remedies for you.

How We Prove the Arrest Was Unlawful

I rush to secure evidence because it has the potential to disappear. Police departments use retention schedules which remove critical video evidence when no one saves the footage.

I obtain every piece of paperwork connected to your arrest:

Arrest reports and complaint reports
Supporting depositions
Declined to Prosecute Letters from the Bronx District Attorney’s office
Police activity log reports
911 call reports
Jail verification reports
Everything officers wrote about why they claim they had the right to arrest you
Then I go after the video. Body-worn cameras. Surveillance footage. Dashboard cameras. Witness recordings. I handle Freedom of Information Law requests by submitting them and I take steps when these requests face delays.

Witnesses matter. I need to speak with people who witnessed the actual events because their statements need to be recorded before their memories disappear. The witnesses sometimes provide accounts which contradict the information presented in police reports.

My background creates a distinction in this situation. I spent eight years as an NYPD detective and 2 years as a Bronx prosecutor, so I know exactly what information officers should have had before making an arrest. I can spot the gaps and identify when they’re making it up as they go.

I collaborate with investigators and experts who possess knowledge about NYPD operational methods. People who know how arrests happen in Bronx precincts (40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 52nd). I understand the specific patterns which exist in each voting precinct and I possess the skills to reveal them.

My experience in Bronx Criminal Court and federal court (SDNY) has given me complete knowledge of what judges require. I know how to cross-examine officers who aren’t used to being questioned by someone who knows their job as well as they do.

Financial accountability in false arrest cases includes several categories of harm.

First, compensation for time spent unlawfully detained. The time spent in handcuffs and prison cells along with the stolen hours which they took without authorization.

Emotional distress damages cover:

The experience of being arrested in public view in front of familiar faces became a deeply humiliating experience.
Fear during arrest and detention
Anxiety that follows you home

Lost wages matter. The arrest caused you to miss work and lose your employment which resulted in major economic losses. The total cost of out-of-pocket expenses includes bail money and criminal defense attorney fees and transportation costs.

Punitive damages serve as a punishment for officers who act with malice or lack sufficient cause because they help prevent future occurrences of wrongdoing.

Every case depends on its facts. How long were you detained?What happened during the arrest?How did it affect your life?I will give you an honest assessment of your achievable goals through my own life experience. The settlement value in different cases ranges from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands.

No amount of time can remove the facts of what occurred. Financial accountability functions as a control system which makes the city handle this issue with appropriate gravity.

To sue New York City for false arrest, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the arrest. Not 91 days. Exactly 90 days or less.

The police arrest marked the beginning of the time countdown for you. The system maintains continuous operation regardless of whether someone faces pending charges or active criminal proceedings. Courts almost never grant extensions. The court has dismissed cases because the defendant failed to appear within one day of their scheduled time.

Missing this deadline will result in permanent loss of your right to file a lawsuit.

Every day you wait, evidence disappears:

Video footage gets deleted
Witnesses move or forget details.
Documents get lost
Officers coordinate their stories

I will begin processing your Notice of Claim application right away while the investigation remains ongoing. The paperwork system is complicated but I take full responsibility for managing all administrative tasks. You just need to contact me before the deadline passes.

I need to share this information with you right now because it will become difficult to explain your missed chance for justice after time has passed.

I know the Bronx because I worked here as a detective and as a prosecutor in the Bronx District Attorney’s office. I recognize the difficulties that residents encounter while also understanding the working methods of law enforcement agencies in these areas.

My track record speaks for itself. I’ve won many settlements against NYPD in Bronx cases because I know their tactics and weaknesses. People who have spent time in prison understand how the system shields dishonest police officers and what strategies exist to overcome these protective systems.

You deserve dignity and respect. The officers who arrested you failed to provide this but I will give it to you. I see the person behind the case. Your life has value, and your story matters.

The legal system requires immediate response in particular cases. Others settle through skilled negotiation. I adjust my approach based on what gets you the best result.

You don’t need to pay any money before starting. I work on contingency, which means I only get paid if you get paid. I dedicate my resources to this work because I strongly believe in its value.

False Arrest Questions from Bronx Clients

Can I sue if police arrested me based on a warrant for someone else?

Yes. Mistaken identity arrests show police failed to properly verify who they were arresting. The process of confirming a person’s identity requires police officers to perform appropriate verification procedures. Arresting someone without doing that basic verification is negligent and violates your rights.

What would occur to me when police officers detain me during a protest or demonstration?

Your right to protest receives protection under the First Amendment. Mass arrests without individualized probable cause are unlawful. The police need to confirm all arrests by using concrete evidence which demonstrates the defendant performed the crime they are accused of. If your presence leads to the act of removing you from your current location, that constitutes a violation.
I need to follow specific procedures that will help me seal or expunge your arrest record.
Criminal record sealing is a separate legal process from your civil lawsuit. I can advise you on both. A successful outcome in your civil case will strengthen your petition to seal your record because it demonstrates that the arrest was illegal.

Will suing the police make me a target?

I share your concern about safety because I will always prioritize your health and safety.. If officers retaliate against you for asserting your rights, that gives you another lawsuit against them or bolsters your current claim.

Can I file a lawsuit against particular police officers or legal action against the city?

You have the right to file a lawsuit against both parties. Individual officers can be held personally liable under Section 1983 for violating your rights. The city can be liable under certain circumstances.
The method you should choose depends on the particular information that exists in your case.

Let's Hold Them Accountable Together

False arrest attacks your dignity and freedom. You have the right to fight back. Free consultation to evaluate your situation. Contingency fee (no financial risk). Committed to the Bronx community and seeing justice done.