yup, stopped, frisked, searched, beaten & then charged with a made up crime. Happened on St. Marks between 1st & Ave A. I live on First Ave.

The cops said I was a "suspicious character". Of course I am white (dutch-english-irish) & had short hair. Had just gotten off work at a midtown Ad Agency, was sitting on a stoop, drinking an ice coffee thinking about what to do over the weekend. Had nothing illegal on my person. In fact the incident did not turn violent until the undercover detectives had confirmed that i was not breaking any laws (except perhaps sitting on someone else's front stoop, which is technically illegal).

After my bag & person was searched i was holding out my NYS ID. The violent 9th Precinct undercover officer reached forward as if to take my ID. Instead he grabbed my wrist, spun me around (while i'm still sitting), grabbed the back of my head with his other hand and proceeded to beat my forehead on the cement steps. Things got uglier from there on. Keeping this short though.

After 3 years & spending a couple thousand on a criminal defense lawyer, I won a civil case against the City of New York. The officers involved are still on patrol in my neighborhood.