The School of Visual Arts student alleges police began punching and kicking him when he began recording them
WEST NEW YORK -- A Bergen County man who says he was assaulted and then arrested by police three years ago for refusing to show identification while taking pictures on the street has settled his lawsuit for $50,000.
West New York police allegedly roughed up a photography student who refused to show identification while taking pictures of a bodega. The news was first reported by NJ Civil Settlements, which provides a partial list of settlements paid by New Jersey government agencies and their insurers to those who have sued them.
Rene A. Berdugo of Hackensack, a student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, says he was photographing a bodega on the corner of 62nd Street and Monroe Place in West New York when two officers approached him, according to court papers.
When Berdugo refused to produce ID after being asked, he was told he'd be arrested if he didn't comply, the suit said. Berdugo then took out his cell phone to begin recording.
The two officers then allegedly tried to take the phone and began punching and kicking Berdugo before taking him into custody, the suit says.
They eventually released Berdugo, but not before erasing the recording of the run-in, according to the suit. They also failed to return $40 and a necklace that Berdugo had on him when he was taken into custody, court papers says.
The incident took place on April 27, 2013; the lawsuit was settled on July 27.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.