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Arrest Without Probable Cause Suit Settled Against New Jersey Police Department

Arrest Without Probable Cause Suit Settled Against New Jersey Police
Department

Oki Dzivenu, an African-American male, entered into a settlement with the
Borough of Paramus (New Jersey), its police department and employees
thereof on his behalf in the amount of $39,212.00 on November 2, 2005.
Dzivenu's federal civil rights suit stated that defendants were liable for
violating his Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the U.S.
Constitution for arresting him without probable cause for an alleged
assault against a child.

Dzivenu, who was attending a birthday party for a friend's child at a mall
restaurant, was accused by a Bergen County policeman of assaulting a
child. Dzivenu wore a black jacket similar to other black males at the
restaurant. After arresting Dzivenu, the police transported him to their
headquarters and questioned him for over two hours, even though he
continually requested an attorney's presence during his six-hour ordeal.
Dzivenu was released from custody without being charged with a crime. See:
Dzivenu v. Borough of Paramus, USDC D NJ, Case No. 04-4816 (JCL).

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