N.J. cops brutally beat man recovering from brain surgery, lawsuit says

A Bergen County man has filed a federal lawsuit against the Paterson Police Department and 12 officers, alleging he was subjected to an unlawful stop, brutal physical assault, and a humiliating sexual violation in an incident allegedly captured on body-worn cameras.
Benjamin Jackson, 53, of Saddle Brook, claims in court papers he was stopped without probable cause on Nov. 6, 2022, while walking in Paterson, thrown to the ground and beaten after officers falsely accused him of suspicious behavior.
Police are alleged to have forcibly searched Jackson without cause and then beat him despite his protests and repeated requests for a supervisor to come to the scene, alleges the complaint, filed Nov. 4 in U.S. District Court.
At one point, Jackson told officers he had stitches in his head from recent brain surgery and that he suffers from seizures, according to the lawsuit.
A spokesman for the Paterson Police Department on Tuesday declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation. City officials did not respond to an email seeking comment.
According to the complaint, Jackson was stopped by undercover plainclothes officers between 8 and 9 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2022, at Broadway and East 18th Street. The officers were all equipped with body-worn cameras that were activated during the incident.
The lawsuit states one of the police officers saw Jackson widening his eyes, appearing startled and slowing his pace after spotting the officers’ unmarked police vehicle. Another officer saw Jackson touch his fanny pack and mistakenly believed there might be a firearm inside.
The “officers wrongfully used these pre-textual and alleged behaviors as a justification to stop (Jackson),” the suit says.
The suit says the officers insisted on searching Jackson, who told them that New Jersey is “not a stop and frisk state,” and asked for a police supervisor to come to the scene.
In all, Jackson asked for a supervisor 15 times as officers placed him in handcuffs with one officer telling him, “All you was doing was making problems.”
The body camera footage shows Jackson complying with police commands before being thrown to the ground and placed in handcuffs, according to the suit.
Officers “brutally kicked him, punched him in the face, chest and stomach, and slammed his face and head into the ground,” aggravated the brain surgery wound, the suit alleges.
At one point, an officer allegedly grabbed Jackson’s genitals while his hands were cuffed behind his back. “That’s for free bro, don’t even worry about it,” the officer allegedly said, in a statement the lawsuit says was captured on body-worn cameras.
Other officers are accused of standing by and laughing during the incident, the complaint alleges.
Despite Jackson’s warnings about his condition and pleas for medical attention, the officers continued their alleged assault, leaving him with severe injuries, including a testicular condition requiring surgery, the suit alleges.
Jackson, who is Black, contends his arrest and subsequent treatment were racially motivated.
The complaint alleges violations of Jackson’s Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, which protect against unlawful search and seizure and prohibits states from depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
Jackson’s lawsuit also alleges the department’s policies fostered an environment of misconduct and failed to hold officers accountable.
Last year, the state Office of the Attorney General took control of the Paterson Police Department following years of problems, including criminal charges against a dozen officers, millions in legal settlements and criticism of police use of force.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.