A Bronx resident alleges that he was unlawfully detained, assaulted, and deprived of his property by members of the New York Police Department in an incident that raises questions about police conduct and accountability. The federal complaint was filed by Steve Hall on March 10, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the City of New York, NYPD officers Victor Cunha and Alberto DeMarchena, as well as three unidentified NYPD members.
According to the complaint prepared by attorney Jessica Massimi, Hall claims that on February 21, 2025, at approximately 4:15 p.m., he was lawfully present on 146th Street between Willis and Brook Avenues in Bronx County when he was approached by the defendants. The filing states that “without any probable cause or legal basis,” Officers Cunha and DeMarchena questioned and detained Hall before assaulting him along with three other unidentified officers. The complaint asserts that these actions were taken without justification or reasonable suspicion.
The document outlines a series of allegations stemming from this encounter. Hall contends that he was subjected to excessive force when officers “grabbed his right arm and twisted it behind his back” and applied “excessively tight handcuffs.” He further alleges that none of the officers intervened to prevent what he describes as a violation of his constitutional rights. After being transported to what is believed to be the 40th Precinct stationhouse, Hall says he was released without explanation or charges. During his detention, Hall’s truck was reportedly towed without legal grounds, resulting in theft of property valued at several thousand dollars from his vehicle.
The complaint emphasizes that Hall “was not involved in any illegal or suspicious activity” at the time of the incident. It further alleges that there was no justification for any use of force or for initiating an arrest. Upon release from custody, Hall claims that even some NYPD personnel questioned why he had been arrested.
Hall’s lawsuit sets forth multiple causes of action under both federal and state law. These include unlawful seizure, search, false arrest under Section 1983 for violations of Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights; excessive force; due process violations involving alleged fabrication of evidence; municipal liability claims against the City under Monell v. Department of Social Services; as well as claims under New York City Administrative Code sections regarding false arrest and excessive force.
The filing asserts that “the Individual Defendants willfully and intentionally searched Plaintiff and his property…without individualized probable cause,” leading to what is described as “false arrest and imprisonment.” Additionally, it alleges “Defendants subjected Plaintiff to excessive force” which resulted in physical injuries including pain to his right shoulder and elbow.
Hall also accuses certain defendants of fabricating evidence submitted to prosecutors in order to justify his arrest. According to the complaint: “The Individual Defendants willfully and intentionally fabricated evidence by falsely memorializing claims…and then forwarded these materially false claims to the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office.”
In addition to holding individual officers accountable for their actions both officially and personally, Hall seeks damages from the City itself based on allegations that inadequate supervision within the NYPD contributed directly to constitutional violations such as abuse of authority or fabrication of evidence. The suit contends: “Defendant City of New York deliberately and intentionally chose not to take action to correct…misuse and abuse of police authority by its NYPD employees.”
Among other remedies sought from the court are compensatory damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, deprivation of liberty rights under both federal constitution provisions (including Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth Amendments) as well as state constitutional protections; punitive damages against individual defendants; statutory attorney’s fees; costs; disbursements; actual damages against both city officials individually named as well as municipal authorities collectively.
Steve Hall is represented by attorney Jessica Massimi from Massimi Law PLLC located at 99 Wall Street in New York City. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-01959.
Source: 126cv01959_Steve_Hall_v_The_City_of_New_York_Complaint_Southern_District_of_New_York.pdf
