A man who was arrested by Hempstead Village Police last year is suing the village and the police department for $1 million, calling the use of a stun gun, then shooting him with a handgun “excessive” force.
Patrick Alexis, 31, who lives at 330 Washington Street, made headlines last March. Two days after arresting him, the Nassau County Police Department passed out a press release announcing their response to 9-1-1 calls at 4:50 a.m. about a “violent” man inside the Hempstead apartment building where Alexis lives.
Press release circulated by Nassau County Police, which feeds crime stories to the media, announced arrest–and shooting–of Patrick Alexis.Photo byScreenshot, Nassau County Police Dep’t News
After the press release was sent around, News 12 used it for a story.
“A man who was arrested was allegedly threatening officers in Hempstead,” reported one news anchor. The other news anchor added, “Police tell us things quickly escalated when they responded to a call early Saturday morning…”