Family: Police Intruded Home With No Warrant, False Complaint

The family is suing New Rochelle police

A New Rochelle family says police barged into their home without a search warrant Sunday night, claiming their husband and father was an assault suspect in a complaint that turned out to be false. 

Fatima Stevenson said it felt like a movie when the police officers allegedly forced their way into her home while her two young children were there. 

"I opened the door and they pushed themselves in," said Stevenson.

According to the family's attorney, Neil Grimaldi, police received a complaint that Stevenson's husband, Scott, had assaulted someone earlier in the day. Authorities apparently went to the home looking for him; Stevenson later found out the assault complaint was a lie. 

"I feel terrible. I feel violated," Scott Stevenson said.

He said he didn't know the person who filed the complaint against him. He said he learned the person was jailed for allegedly lying to police, then released on bond.

The Stevenson family is now filing a civil lawsuit against the New Rochelle Police Department seeking monetary damages for violating their rights.

Grimaldi said "there's a lot of behavior that is totally unacceptable and it keeps going on."

The Stevensons said police never offered an apology for the forceful intrusion.

"No apologies, nothing. I was shocked, scared, I couldn't sleep till 5 in the morning," said Fatima Stevenson.

New Rochelle Police had no comment on the case. 

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