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Posted by: kwflatbed

By JOSEPH R. LAPLANTE
Standard-Times staff writer
August 24, 2007 6:00 AM
NEW BEDFORD — A city woman has sued two New Bedford police officers in U.S. District Court, Boston, alleging violations of her civil rights, false imprisonment, and assault and battery, among other complaints.
Lisa M. Silva of 31 Beech St. alleges that Officers Timothy M. Gibney and William Sauve roughed her up and placed her under false arrest at the former Wishing Well bar, known for years as Alfie's Place, on Ashley Boulevard, which is scheduled for demolition.
Ms. Silva said the officers arrested her on June 16 when she protested that her mother had been prevented from entering the bar, which Ms. Silva asserts in her complaint is owned by her former father-in-law.
She alleged that one of the officers grabbed her wrist and told her, "Shut up." Ms. Silva said she warned the officer that she is the victim of three strokes and is unsteady on her feet, and not to grab her again.
Ms. Silva said the officer grabbed her again and told her she was under arrest for disturbing the peace. She was held for several hours at the Ash Street Jail.
She alleges that she sprained her wrist, her right arm was bruised and her back was sore from an officer shoving his flashlight into her back.
Ms. Silva is seeking compensatory and consequential damages, punitive damages, court costs and attorneys fees.
Police Chief Ronald E. Teachman did not return telephone calls made by the Standard-Times on Thursday afternoon.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/708240370

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Posted by: sdb29

I hope I did this right. Attached is a link to a surveillance video of an arrest in New Bedford, MA last year. The female defendant is suing the NB cops in US District Court for 1983 Violations.

After you watch the video if you poke around on the page you'll find a link to the plaintiff's attorney's web page, who apparently is the one who posted the surveillance video on youtube. Poke around on the attorney's web page and you'll find the arrest report and 1983 complaint.

Interesting reading/video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsFK3RwJx2c

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Posted by: HousingCop

That's Police brutality??? That there my friends is subject control & compliance tecniques used to effect an arrest. It's taught in every Police academy in the United States from part-time to full time LE officers. Those 2 cops were in a tight area with limited options and various people / unknown threats to their front, side & rear. Good luck Lisa Silva and your blood sucking, er, I mean attorney. Another frivelous lawsuit which clogs up resources in an otherwise overburdened court system.

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Posted by: Q5-TPR

Housing Cop beat me to it, where exactly is the brutality on that arrest???????

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Posted by: KozmoKramer

Somehow I get the feeling that Alfie's Place wasn't exactly NB's version of the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom.

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Posted by: sdb29

Quote:

Originally Posted by KozmoKramer Somehow I get the feeling that Alfie's Place wasn't exactly NB's version of the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom.

Yeah you pretty much hit that right on the head. They've since torn it down, along with most of the block to build a new CVS.

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Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by HousingCop Good luck Lisa Silva and your blood sucking, er, I mean attorney. Another frivelous lawsuit which clogs up resources in an otherwise overburdened court system.

Municipalities and the state need to start refusing settlements and start counter-suing these scumbag lawyers for filing frivolous lawsuits. The money recovered isn't the point; make life difficult for these leeches and they'll think twice before accepting contingency "brutality" cases hoping for a quick, painless settlement.

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Posted by: CJIS

I did not see anything wrong. HousingCop is right on the money.

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Posted by: 94c

Quote:

Originally Posted by KozmoKramer Somehow I get the feeling that Alfie's Place wasn't exactly NB's version of the Ritz-Carlton Ballroom.

They did rent about 20 rooms upstairs but they all shared a common bathroom and common kitchen.

Difficult to tell which was which, though...

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Posted by: justanotherparatrooper

She alleged that one of the officers grabbed her wrist and told her, "Shut up." Ms. Silva said she warned the officer that she is the victim of three strokes and is unsteady on her feet, and not to grab her again.
I can see her point..after all stroke victims are often sent to bars for recovery

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