Village police department sued after hospitalizing woman

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POUGHKEEPSIE – A lawsuit naming the Village of Wappingers Falls Police Department and one of its officers is being brought by a woman who claims she was assaulted by the officer and hospitalized against her will.

Tricia Robinson, through her attorney Francis Young, says that on October 2, 2021, Wappingers Falls Police Officer John Reynolds threatened, wrongfully restrained, assaulted, battered, handcuffed her, threw her to the ground, and jumped on her back outside of the police station. Ms. Robinson says that the police then forced her to go to the hospital against her will.

The events leading up to the alleged assault began earlier in the day when Robinson’s sister called the police and asked them to do a welfare check on Ms. Robinson.  Officer Reynolds called Robinson who agreed to come to the station to verify that she was not in a suicidal state of mind.  At some point before Robinson arrived, her sister told police that Robinson sent her a text indicating she was suicidal.  The police drew up a “941 order” which allows a police officer to take a person into custody for evaluation if the person appears to be mentally ill and is conducting themselves in a manner which is likely to result in serious harm to themselves or others under the state’s Mental Health Law.

An ambulance responded to the police station to transport Robinson.  The EMT’s report says that when they arrived, Robinson “appeared to be very agitated at the officer and was upset that he stated to her that “she is a selfish mother” due to how she was feeling.”

The report filed by the Mobile Life personnel on the scene says that Robinson agreed to go with them to the hospital for a mental evaluation.  The EMT says that Robinson went to her car to get her purse, and then threw bananas across the parking lot out of anger.  According to the EMT, the items thrown were “nowhere towards EMS, PD, or any emergency vehicles.”  The EMT then said “The officer then proceeded to body slam her into her car with no warning, trying to put handcuffs on her.  The pt then attempted to get away from the officer, asking why she was being put into handcuffs, and what was happening. The patient appeared to be defending herself from being assailed and did not appear to make a conscious attempt to assault the officer in any way. The officer then tackled her to the ground where she continued to try to get away, with her screaming to stop touching her.”

Robinson agreed to the medical transport from Mobile Life.  Once in the ambulance, the staff noted that Robinson had sustained abrasions to her hands and knees from the struggle.

Attorney Young says that no criminal charges were filed against his client and the report prepared by Mobile Life validates the claims of abuse made by his client.

Wappingers Falls Police Commissioner Charles Ferry did not respond to a request for comment.




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