A Bronx woman claims she was unlawfully arrested by the NYPD for driving drunk, even though cops never saw her driving, and was then subjected to an “illegal” strip and cavity search over charges that were ultimately dropped, a scathing, million-dollar Manhattan federal court lawsuit alleges.
Noheme Perez, who filed her suit Monday, said she was in the vicinity of 7th Avenue and W. 122nd Street in Harlem around 7:32 p.m. on May 15, 2017 getting something out of her car when she was stopped by two NYPD officers, identified as Yvonne Edwards and Geoffrey Wyrick, according to the lawsuit and Perez’s lawyer, Samuel DePaola.
Seemingly without cause, Edwards and Wyrick started questioning her, demanding to see her license and inquiring about her level of intoxication, DePaolo explained.
Perez was then cuffed in an “excessively forceful and tight fashion, which caused her to suffer substantial pain and discomfort” and then underwent an “illegal strip search and cavity inspection,” back at the precinct, according to court papers.
Lawyers for the woman claim “there was no reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that any contraband had been secreted therein” and therefore, the invasive searches were illegal, the lawsuit says.
Perez was slapped with a series of charges, including resisting arrest, DUI, unlicensed driving and other related charges — even though officers admitted that they didn’t actually witness her driving, according to a now-sealed criminal complaint against her provided to The Post by DePaolo.
“I observed the defendant outside of her vehicle. I know the defendant was driving because she stated in substance to me: I was driving the car,” the criminal complaint states.
DePaolo said Perez was merely grabbing a personal belonging out of the car.
In her lawsuit, Perez claims the officers “knowingly and intentionally gave false, misleading, or incomplete information,” to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, including allegations Perez appeared drunk through “watery, glossy eyes” and had the stench of alcohol on her breath.
Charges against Perez were ultimately dropped and sealed and she believes she was being unfairly targeted because of her race as a Hispanic woman.
Perez is seeking at least $1 million in damages.
An NYPD spokesperson said they will “review the lawsuit if and when it is served” and did not provide further comment.
Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy