Alexander Buckle, 35, claims he was held without arraignment or trial from Sept. 2014 until March 2015
HACKENSACK - A Maryland man is suing Bergen County officials for malicious prosecution and false imprisonment, claiming he was held in the local jail for six months because the sheriff, public defender and court staff "lost him in the system."
Alexander Buckle (BCSO) Alexander Buckle, 35, claims in court papers he was arrested on Sept. 11, 2014 in New Brunswick and held in the Bergen County Jail through March 2015 without arraignment, trial or opportunity to post bail.
During that time, Buckle says he was beaten unconscious by gang members in the jail commissary, lost his job, fell behind on rent and was evicted from his apartment.
Buckle claims in the suit gang members continued to beat him for several minutes after he was unconscious and that he was taken to Bergen Regional Medical Center with two fractured eye sockets, a broken nose, memory loss and psychological trauma.
"No one from the New Jersey Superior Court, the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, or the Bergen County Jail took any action to ensure that (Buckle) received the due process to which he is constitutionally entitled," attorneys stated in a lawsuit filed last month in U.S. District Court.
Buckle claims he made repeated collect calls to the criminal division of Superior Court in Hackensack. Each time, a staff member would insist Buckle was not incarcerated, "despite the electronic prompt at the outset of every call advising the recipient" that Buckle was calling from jail, the suit states.
The lawsuit states a private attorney from Cherry Hill helped secure Buckle's release on March 3, 2015.
The lawsuit does not name Buckle's primary charge, but states he was held on a related charge of probation violation.
A check of public records shows misdemeanor drug cases were filed against Buckle in Pennsylvania in September 2014 and that he was ordered held for court.
Buckle's attorney, Robert E. Brookman, of Jenkintown, Pa., would not discuss the lawsuit or his client's arrest history.
"Thank you for your interest in Mr. Buckle's case. Unfortunately, we are unable to comment," Brookman wrote in an email.
The suit accuses Bergen County Sheriff Robert Saudino and county employees of "intentionally, maliciously and/or recklessly" refusing to take action in response to Buckle's repeated demands for a hearing.
In doing so, Saudino and the county violated Buckle's 14th Amendment rights, which prohibit state and local government from depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property without legislative authorization.
Specifically, the lawsuit accuses Saudino and the jail of false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and negligence.
"They lost (Buckle) in the system, and continued to confine him without ever inquiring as to the legality of his confinement," the suit states.
The lawsuit also names New Jersey Public Defender Joseph E. Krakora, claiming the defense lawyer and his staffers breached a duty to provide competent representation.
"No one from the (N.J.) Public Defender's Office even met with (Buckle) until several months into his incarceration," the lawsuit claims.
The suit accuses Krakora of breach of contract and professional negligence.
The public defender, along with the sheriff, jail and court officials, "permitted Buckle to languish in prison and refrained from providing any services whatsoever," the suit states.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Neither Bergen County officials nor the state public defender's office have returned calls and emails requesting comment.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.