Officers Executed “No-Knock” Warrant upon Entering Residence

On April 20, 2021, Attorney Lauren P. Raysor announced that she is filing a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) on behalf of her client, Andre Brown. Ms. Raysor claimed officers executed a “no-knock” warrant upon entering the premises and unlawfully arresting Mr. Brown.

On the morning of March 5, 2021, Mr. Brown, who was living in the basement apartment of his family’s house in Jamaica, Queens with his girlfriend, Deidre Covington, saw a group of NYPD officers — their faces and badges covered with dark cloth — pointing their guns at him. The officers broke down the front door and trashed the basement apartment. They made him and his girlfriend get dressed, cuffed Mr. Brown and pulled them into a police van without explanation. Meanwhile, another group of officers told Mr. Brown’s family, who were upstairs, not to move. None of the officers produced a warrant before entering the residence.

Mr. Brown spent 25 minutes in the van. A short while later, Ms. Covington was released. Mr. Brown was taken to the precinct, where he was ticketed for possession of marijuana. He spent 90 minutes in a jail cell after being fingerprinted and photographed. Five days later, the District Attorney’s Office determined the NYPD did not have a case against Mr. Brown and dropped the charge.

“I can’t understand, in light of Breonna Taylor’s murder, that the police are allowed to execute ‘no-knock’ warrants,” Ms. Raysor said. “Suspending our constitutional rights under the guise of fighting crime is morally wrong. What is worse is that a majority of these ‘no-knock’ warrants are executed in communities of color. We can’t wait until someone is killed to change the law. We have a chance to make changes now.”

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

Attorney Lauren P. Raysor said that the guilty verdict handed to former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is long overdue, since too many communities of color have been victimized by questionable and, at times, unlawful tactics used by police in making an arrest.

On May 25, 2020, Mr. Chauvin, who was on the force at the time, tried to handcuff George Floyd by placing his knee on the back of Mr. Floyd’s neck for nine-and-a-half minutes. Although Mr. Floyd told him he couldn’t breathe, Mr. Chauvin continued to press his knee behind Mr. Floyd’s neck. Mr. Floyd was later transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The next day, Mr. Chauvin was fired from the force. On May 29, 2020, he was arrested in the death of Mr. Floyd and charged with murder and manslaughter. On April 20, 2021, a jury found Mr. Chauvin guilty on three charges: second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The charges carry a combined maximum sentence of 75 years.

“I am relieved that some semblance of justice can be found in this verdict,” Ms. Raysor said. “Every time a police officer is on trial for the death of an African-American citizen, they are usually found not guilty for one reason or the other. Now that this verdict has been rendered, I hope that the police departments across the U.S. will clean house and reform their practices so that they can no longer demonstrate any forms of hostility on persons of color.”

Ms. Raysor concentrates her practice in civil rights, representing those who are arrested during a traffic stop for no reason or as a result of racial profiling, experience negligence while in jail or prison, or use of excessive force. She also founded the Mount Vernon Coalition for Police Reform, which is comprised of former police officers, civil rights attorneys, former city officials and other concerned individuals seeking ways to improve the practices of the Mount Vernon Police Department.

For more information, call (914) 733-8080 or visit www.laurenpraysor.com.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.

 

Who:            Attorney Lauren P. Raysor, Esq., Principal, Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law

Andre Brown, Ms. Raysor’s client

Tijuana Brown and Susan Brown, Mr. Brown’s relatives

What:           Lauren P. Raysor, Esq., Principal, Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law, will hold a press conference to announce that she is filing a lawsuit against the New York Police Department (NYPD) on behalf of Andre Brown, who was unlawfully arrested and detained by officers without being read his rights. Ms. Raysor claims NYPD officers executed a “no-knock” warrant upon entering his residence.

On the morning of March 5, 2021, Mr. Brown, who was living in the basement of his family’s house in Jamaica, Queens with his girlfriend, Deidre Covington, heard a noise coming from upstairs and went to investigate. He saw a group of NYPD officers — their faces and badges covered with dark cloth — pointing their guns at him. They made him and his girlfriend get dressed, cuffed Mr. Brown and pulled them into a police van without explanation. Meanwhile, another group of officers told Mr. Brown’s family, who were upstairs, not to move. None of the officers produced a warrant before entering the premises.

Mr. Brown spent 25 minutes in the van. A short while later, Ms. Covington was released. Mr. Brown was taken to the precinct, where he was ticketed for possession of marijuana. He spent 90 minutes in a jail cell after being fingerprinted and photographed. Five days later, the District Attorney’s Office determined the NYPD did not have a case against Mr. Brown.

Ms. Raysor says most “no-knock” warrants are executed in communities of color and this incident could have resulted in tragic consequences, similar to what happened with Breonna Taylor.

When:           Tuesday, April 20, 2021

4:30 p.m.

Where:         Lauren P. Raysor, Attorney at Law

Roosevelt Professional Building

                     11 West Prospect Avenue

                     Mount Vernon, NY

** PLEASE NOTE: Due to COVID-19 protocols, the press conference will be held outside in the law firm’s parking lot. **

Directions:   From I-95 N: Take Exit 9 to Hutchinson Pkwy N. Stay on Hutchinson Pkwy. N. and take Exit 12 toward East Lincoln Ave./Mount Vernon/Pelham. Turn left onto First Ave., then another left onto 84/Lincoln Ave. After 0.4 mile, take another left onto Darwood Pl. Go 0.2 mile, then go right onto E. Sidney Ave. Make a left onto Gramatan Ave., then a right onto W. Prospect Ave. Law office is on the right-hand side. 

Photo Ops:   Ms. Raysor joined by Mr. Brown and his family.

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About Lauren P. Raysor

Lauren P. Raysor is an attorney concentrating in personal injury, civil rights, bankruptcy, matrimonial and family law. She has litigated numerous cases over the years, taking more than 35 cases to verdict and has argued before the Appellate Division in the case of Makeda Barnes Joseph v. Universal Music Group. She served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Mount Vernon, where she was in charge of the city’s Law Department. Ms. Raysor is currently outside counsel for the New York State Dormitory Authority, and served as the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Upper Manhattan Region, outside counsel to the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone and counsel at a Wall Street law firm.