FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Legal Filing Alleges NYPD Officers Used Excessive Force and Unlawful Detention Over E-Bike Stop
New York, NY – February 22, 2025, A Brooklyn woman, Keyanna Moody, has filed an Amended Notice of Claim against the City of New York and multiple NYPD officers, alleging that she was unlawfully arrested, physically assaulted, subjected to racial slurs, and denied medical care after purchasing cotton candy for her five-year-old daughter in Coney Island on June 11, 2024. The claim asserts that officers wrongfully accused Moody of operating an unregistered vehicle, violently tackled her to the ground, and detained her under inhumane conditions.
The claim names several NYPD officers from the 60th Precinct, including Lieutenant Special Assignment Daniel Lacalamita, Sergeant Stanislav Zubyk, Police Officer Michael R. Moran, Police Officer Alvin M. Nieves, and Police Officer Jared W. Cordero, as individuals responsible for violating Moody’s constitutional rights.
Cotton Candy Purchase Leads to Brutal Arrest
According to the claim, on June 11, 2024, at approximately 8:15 PM, Moody and her husband rode their e-bikes at Canarsie Pier before deciding to head to Coney Island to buy cotton candy for their daughter. Moody operated a Z6 Fly E-Bike, a high-performance electric bike that did not require a license or registration under New York law.
At approximately 8:40 PM, after purchasing the cotton candy, the claim states that an unmarked NYPD vehicle and a police scooter aggressively maneuvered to block Moody’s movement. Officers allegedly exited their vehicles and immediately confronted Moody with hostility.
As detailed in the claim, Officer Nieves unlawfully seized Moody’s e-bike keys from the ignition without explanation, demanding license and registration—documents not legally required for her Z6 Fly E-Bike. The claim asserts this was an unlawful deprivation of property and an abuse of authority.
Recognizing the officers’ aggressive behavior, as alleged in the claim, Moody’s husband urged her to sit down to de-escalate the situation, which she did. As indicated in the claim, despite Moody’s compliance, officers continued to insist she provide documentation that was not required by law. The claim states that Lieutenant Lacalamita threatened Moody with arrest, and when she reiterated that the documents were unnecessary, he immediately ordered her arrest.
Allegations of Excessive Force and Racial Slurs
According to the claim, Officers Moran and Cordero violently tackled Moody to the ground without justification, injuring her knees, back, and arms. The claim further states that Officer Nieves attempted to deploy his Taser multiple times but, when unsuccessful, joined in physically restraining Moody by placing his knee on her back. At the same time, Officer Moran stepped on her legs.
The claim alleges that at least five additional officers stood by and failed to intervene while this occurred.
As Moody was being pulled toward a patrol car, the claim asserts that Lieutenant Lacalamita called her a ‘black bitch’ and attempted to slap and kick her before forcefully pulling her head and neck downward toward the vehicle. The claim further states that Moody was thrown face-first into the backseat—a practice inconsistent with NYPD guidelines prohibiting placing handcuffed individuals in a prone position due to the risk of positional asphyxia.
Post-Arrest Assault and Medical Neglect at the 60th Precinct
The claim details that at the 60th Precinct, Moody was brought before a desk officer while still handcuffed, where Lieutenant Lacalamita suddenly kicked her to the floor without provocation. The claim states that while she lay on the floor, Lacalamita stood over her and ordered her to ‘get the f* up’**, while the desk officer failed to intervene.
Despite the presence of a female officer, the claim alleges that male officers conducted a full-body search, making inappropriate physical contact with her breasts, vaginal area, buttocks, and thighs. Moody’s repeated requests to know the charges against her were ignored.
Five-Hour Denial of Medical Care
According to the claim, Moody’s visible injuries included bleeding knees, ripped clothing, and dirt stains. Yet, she was denied medical attention and placed in a holding cell for over five hours, during which she repeatedly requested medical care from Officers Cordero and Nieves but was ignored.
Only after she refused to provide her fingerprints were paramedics finally called. Upon assessment, EMTs determined Moody needed medical treatment for her injuries.
Hospital Misconduct and Lack of Medical Examination
The claim states that Moody’s vitals were taken at South Shore Brooklyn Hospital, and she was placed in the resuscitation area. However, Lieutenant Lacalamita reappeared, approaching her from behind. When Moody saw him, she allegedly voiced her fear and demanded that he leave, to which he falsely responded, “I’m not him. I wasn’t there.”
The claim further alleges that after approximately two hours, a doctor abruptly discharged Moody without conducting a complete examination. When she requested discharge papers, the doctor refused, handing them to the NYPD officer escorting her. Moody later discovered through medical records that her treating physician was Dr. Spencer Doblin Kim.
Charges Dismissed, But Police Made Property Retrieval Difficult
According to the claim, Moody was transported back to the 60th Precinct at approximately 3:30 AM and later transferred to Brooklyn Central Booking at 10:00 AM.
When she appeared before a judge, her attorney was absent, and the District Attorney vaguely stated the charges as ‘something about numbers’ before the judge dismissed the case.
Despite the dismissal, the claim asserts that Moody faced significant obstacles in retrieving her personal property, including her Z6 Fly E-Bike, money, jewelry, phone, and ID. When she presented a property release form issued by the DA’s Office, officers at the 60th Precinct refused to release her belongings, falsely claiming she needed a license, registration, and insurance for her e-bike. They then threatened her with arrest if she did not leave the precinct immediately.
NYPD Statistical Data Confirms Pattern of Racial Profiling
The Floyd Monitor’s 23rd Report provides compelling evidence that the NYPD disproportionately targets Black and Latino individuals. Recent NYPD statistical data confirms that:
- Black residents (22.7% of NYC’s population) account for 29.8% of NYPD vehicle stops, while
- White residents (35.9% of NYC’s population) account for only 17.8% of stops.
- Neighborhood Safety Teams (NSTs) conduct unlawful stops at a rate of 25%—far higher than standard NYPD patrols.
The claim states that these disparities support allegations of racial profiling, unlawful search and seizure, and excessive force.
Pattern of NYPD Misconduct and Similar Cases of Civil Rights Violations
The NYPD has a long and documented history of excessive force, racial profiling, and unconstitutional policing—particularly in communities of color. Mrs. Moody’s case is not an isolated incident but rather part of a systemic problem that has resulted in wrongful deaths, excessive force incidents, and legal settlements costing taxpayers millions of dollars.
Notable similar cases include:
- Eric Garner (2014): Died after NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a prohibited chokehold while arresting him for allegedly selling loose cigarettes. His final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a national rallying cry against police brutality.
- Delrawn Small (2016): Shot and killed by an off-duty NYPD officer during a road rage incident. Video evidence contradicted the officer’s self-defense claims, yet no conviction followed.
- Kawaski Trawick (2019): Shot and killed inside his apartment after NYPD officers entered without cause and escalated a non-threatening situation into a fatal encounter.
- Dounya Zayer (2020): Knocked to the ground by an NYPD officer during the George Floyd protests, resulting in severe head trauma.
- Jaylin Ryan (2024): Ryan alleges false arrest, excessive force, and racial discrimination after officers handcuffed and punched him in the face, fracturing his jaw during a December 28, 2024, incident in the Bronx.
- Harold Thomas (2024): The legal filing alleges that Harold B. Thomas was unlawfully stopped, assaulted, and subjected to excessive force by NYPD officers, resulting in severe injuries.
Legal Action and Call for Reform
Moody seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and punitive damages for violating her civil rights. The City of New York is also implicated in failing to train, supervise, and discipline officers engaged in unconstitutional conduct.
Eric Sanders, Esq., of The Sanders Firm, P.C., stated:
“This case is yet another disturbing example of how unchecked police power leads to the mistreatment of innocent civilians. Mrs. Moody was violently arrested, humiliated, and denied basic medical care—for operating an E-Bike. This is a clear abuse of authority and highlights the systemic issues of racial profiling, excessive force, and lack of accountability within the NYPD. We will not stop until justice is served and those responsible are held accountable.”
Contact Information:
The Sanders Firm, P.C.
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-652-2782
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