Taisha Allen, 37, filmed the tragic death of Eric Garner and the NYPD allegedly did not like her very well. Allen states that she saw her friend being harassed by the police while he was on the way into a store. Allen then asked the cops why her friend was being stopped since he did nothing wrong. It was then that Allen claims NYPD Officer Stephen Damico said, “Oh, you are that bitch that filmed the Eric Garner video.”
Allen says she ignored the comment at first but then stated, “Eric was my friend and he had nothing to do with anything.” It was then that Damico allegedly stated, “Ok. Now you have a warrant out for your arrest.” Allen claims she tried to walk away and was assaulted by several cops who grabbed and threw half of her body over a fence, twisting her arms as she “screamed in agony,” according to her civil lawsuit.
Allen was taken to Staten Island Hospital for treatment where she claims to have heard a conversation in which a police captain and another officer state they did not think they had the right person.
Rather than face a possible year in prison, Allen pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and obstruction charges in return for five days of community service. Allen stated, “I pleaded guilty because I was scared; I didn’t know what they were going to do to me. I was already a witness in Eric’s case, testified and everything. It took a toll on me. I was already beaten up and in pain. They killed him and there’s no telling what they can do to me. I just wanted to go home.”
Regarding the pending suit, her lawyer Aymen Aboushi stated, “We are pursuing this lawsuit because we want to send a message to show the officers of Staten Island they cannot retaliate against witnesses who come forward.”
The lawsuit is asking for unspecified damages against the NYPD.
