Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Pregnant Teen Sues City Over 3 Days in Jail, Strip Search
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 24, 2010
Modified Nov 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 24, 2010
Modified Nov 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A seven months pregnant woman is filing a $1-million civil lawsuit against the city claiming police falsely arrested her and kept her in jail for three days, before finally realizing she was arrested for no reason. The NYPD and Stephanie Badillo, 19, have differing versions of how long Badillo was behind bars, but this much is certain: she was in the wrong place at the wrong time when she went to visit her boyfriend in Tremont on the evening of November 5th.
When Badillo entered the lobby of her boyfriend's apartment building around 11:30 that night, she was inadvertently walking into a drug bust. She was arrested along with eight others, including their boyfriend, and the NYPD tells the Post that "heroin was present." Badillo's lawyer claims his client was taken to the 48th Precinct station house and did not get released from Central Booking until 3:45 a.m. Monday, a total of more than 50 hours in the clink. Her boyfriend was released a couple of hours later, and the Bronx DA will only say that there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute.
Badillo tells ABC 7 she was strip-searched: "They made me pull my pants down and my shirt up...and squat." And during her time in jail, she says she didn't eat or sleep, telling the Post, "I was afraid for the life of my baby. I couldn't do anything." Her lawyer adds, "To have her sit in a jail for three days without a lawyer or being able to see a judge rings with injustice." But the NYPD claims she was in custody from just before midnight on the 5th until just after midnight on the 7th. Sheesh, that's only 25 hours, what's everybody crying about?
Tagged
lawsuit
nypd
pregnant arrest
Stephanie Badillo
strip search
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Need help with mental health or addiction services? NYC has a new tool.
In surveys, many who say they want want help state they don't know where to start.
By
Caroline Lewis
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
News
NYC sues personal injury law firm accused of bogus trip-and-fall claims
City attorneys allege the firm said its clients were injured by defective city streets or sidewalks when in reality they were hit by cars or banged up in fights.
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
By
Catalina Gonella
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .