Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Woman Claims Cop Assaulted Her For Jaywalking & Cursing In Greenwich Village
By
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 3, 2014
Modified Aug 3, 2014
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
Ben Yakas
Published Aug 3, 2014
Modified Aug 3, 2014
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 woman claims she was the victim of police brutality for jaywalking and cursing in Greenwich Village last month. Stephanie Maldonado told ABC that she was walking with a friend in the Village on July 25th when someone from an unmarked van (with tinted windows) yelled at them for jaywalking. Maldonado cursed back at him, and then found herself eating pavement: "I didn't even know he was an officer," she said. "He grabs me and puts me in handcuffs and then with handcuffs already, I feel my arm, he just throws me on the floor."
"With his knee he put all his weight on my face that's why I have all these abrasions, please you are hurting me, you are hurting me," she added.
Maldonado says she never resisted arrest, and didn't deserve her harsh treatment: "No, once I knew it was police, why would I resist arrest, where am I going to go, where am I going to run to?" She was taken to Beth Israel Medical Center where doctors treated her for a fractured hand, broken teeth, and facial bruises.
As part of the city's crackdown on "Broken Windows" offenses in 2014, the NYPD has given out nearly 900% more jaywalking tickets in 2014 than they did in 2013. That has led to a few other confrontations, including an 84-year-old man who needed four staples to his head after the NYPD violently arrested him during a jaywalking stop on the Upper West Side.
The officer who allegedly made the violent arrest, Eric Duval, remains on full duty while Internal Affairs reviews the case. But ABC adds this isn't the first time he's been accused of abuse: Michael Gjenvick claims he was falsely arrested by Duval a few years ago, injuring him in the process. "I was screaming very similar comments, Why are you arresting me? What are you doing? What is going on right now? Not really getting any response other than him shoving my face into the ground," said Gjenvick.
Ultimately, Gjenvick sued Duvall, one other officer, and the city and was awarded $207,000.
Tagged
arrest
assault
cops
greenwich village
jaywalking
police
stephanie Maldonado
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026
Modified Oct 17, 2026
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
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 .