Lawsuit Says It's Time For Cops to Pay for Knowing-Wrongs

Bx. DA sued over prosecution based on ‘lies’
The New York Post by Jamie Schram and Jose Martinez - February 29, 2012

A Bronx prosecutor turned an innocent man’s life into a living hell for three years by plowing ahead with a case built on cops’ lies, a new lawsuit charges. Mechanic Jerry Ramos plans to file a $6 million suit today against the Bronx District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD over his January 2008 arrest on drug charges. “It makes you feel that you cannot trust the Police Department,” Ramos said. “And if all the [aassistant district attorneys] are like that, they should close down the Bronx courthouse.” A jury took less than 20 minutes to acquit Ramos, the owner of Jerome Muffler Corp., after he was busted for heroin found in a bathroom at a neighboring business, Jerome Transmission Corp. “I was like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ ” said Ramos of his Jan. 12, 2008, arrest. “I told the police that I wasn’t the owner of that business — there’s different licenses, different entrances, different names.” Steven Reed, a spokesman for the Bronx DA’s Office said, “We are unaware of any wrongdoing, and feel confident that this lawsuit is going nowhere.” Ramos’ attorney, John Sandleitner, said, “It’s time for these officers and this prosecutor to pay for what they did.” Court papers accuse Lt. Patrick Brown, Detective Arnaldo Rivera and Officer Vladimir Krull of repeatedly lying in an attempt to get Ramos convicted.