# Ryan v. Goldfine

> District Court, S.D. New York · June 10, 2024

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10660632

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, S.D. New York
- **Decided:** June 10, 2024
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

- No negative treatment found by the automated citator. That is not the same as a confirmation that the case is good law; read the citing cases.
- Full citator and citing cases: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10660632

## How later opinions describe it (automated extraction)

- noting that a district court may consider “documents attached to the complaint as exhibits” when considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6)

## Opinion text

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
RYAN MANZI,

Plaintiff,
OPINION & ORDER
-against-
23-CV-05176 (PMH)
OFFICER JUSTIN GOLDFINE and
SERGEANT JAMES SIRRINE,

Defendants.
PHILIP M. HALPERN, United States District Judge:
Ryan Manzi (“Plaintiff”) commenced this action on June 20, 2023 against City of Beacon
Police Officer Justin Goldfine (“Goldfine”) and City of Beacon Police Sergeant James Sirrine
(“Sirrine” and together, “Defendants”). (Doc. 1). Plaintiff presses two claims in the Second
Amended Complaint—the operative pleading—pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for (i) false arrest
and (ii) malicious prosecution. (Doc. 18, “SAC”).
Before the Court is Defendants’ motion to dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 12(b)(6). Defendant moved to dismiss on January 12, 2024, in accordance with the
briefing schedule set by the Court. (Doc. 20). Defendants filed a memorandum of law and an
attorney affidavit from Kimberly Hunt Lee attaching exhibits in support of their motion to dismiss.
(Doc. 21, “Lee Aff.”; Doc. 22, “Def. Br.”). Plaintiff filed a memorandum of law and an attorney
affidavit from Ryanne Guy Konan attaching exhibits in opposition to Defendants’ motion to
dismiss. (Doc. 26, “Pl. Br.”; Doc. 29, “Konan Aff.”). The motion was fully submitted upon the
filing of Defendants’ reply. (Doc. 27, “Reply”).
For the reasons set forth below, Defendants’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, at the time of the events giving rise to this litigation, was on probation for an
unrelated matter and had an order of protection entered against him in favor of John Yarbough,
who resides at 426 Main Street, Beacon, New York. (Id. ¶¶ 11, 14). The order of protection

prohibits Plaintiff from coming within 500 feet of Mr. Yarbough, or his home, school, business,
or place of employment. (SAC Ex. A). Plaintiff was involved in an altercation outside a restaurant
located at 424 Main Street, Beacon, New York on March 20, 2022 at approximately 4:00 p.m. with
Edward Lopez and Jon Lombardi Jr. (Id. ¶ 12). Plaintiff, after the altercation outside the restaurant,
was driving eastbound on Main Street at around 6:00 p.m. when Lopez, according to Plaintiff,
drove up westbound on Main Street, striking Plaintiff’s car and pinning it between his truck and a
parked vehicle. (Id. ¶ 13). Police vehicles, with their lights and sirens activated, approached
Plaintiff’s vehicle as Defendants ran towards the site of the collision on foot. (Konan Aff., Ex. E).
Plaintiff reversed his vehicle to maneuver past Lopez’s truck and drove away from the scene of
the accident as Defendants were running to the scene. (Lee Aff. Ex. E). Plaintiff collided with a

parked vehicle as he was attempting to maneuver around Lopez’s truck. (Id.). Defendants arrived
on the scene and initially handcuffed Lopez but released him soon after speaking with him. (Id.).
Defendants canvassed the scene immediately after the collision, speaking with five eyewitnesses
to the initial altercation and the subsequent collision including Lopez and Yarbough. (Id.).
Yarbough told Sirrine that he had an order of protection in his favor against Plaintiff. (Id.).
Lopez provided Defendants with two statements, which were attached to the accusatory
instruments. (Lee Aff., Ex. B). Lopez provided the following signed statement to Defendant
Goldfine on March 20, 2022 at 5:35 p.m.:
On 03/20/2022 at approximately 5:17pm, a male who I identified as
Ryan Manzi due to having multiple past incidents with him, entered
the vestibule of Carter’s Restaurant and Lounge where I am the
owner. Upon Manzi entering 424 Main Street he began to have a
verbal altercation with me stating ‘fuck you’ multiple times. I
immediately locked the front entrance doors in order to prevent him
from entering and called the Beacon Police Department while Manzi
used his fists to bang on the door. I am aware that Ryan Manzi has
an active order of protection which is a full stay away, advising him
to stay 500 feet from 426 Main Street issued to him by the
Poughkeepsie City Court by the Honorable Judge Volkman on
11/30/2021. 426 Main Street is directly next to 424 Main Street
which means he violated the Order of Protection issued to him. I
have provided [the] Beacon Police Department with video footage
of Ryan Manzi being at the location stated.
(Id. at 10). Lopez also provided a second signed statement to Defendant Goldfine on March 20,
2022 at 6:58 p.m.:
On 03/20/2022 at approximately 6:30pm I received a phone call
from my business partner Jonathan Lombardi stating there was an
altercation at the restaurant. I then drove over to 424 Main Street to
see that all of my customers and staff were standing outside and
Ryan Manzi whom I have had a verbal altercation with earlier today
was without a shirt getting into a Grey Honda Civic bearing NY
registration JPR-5839. I then pulled my vehicle in front of the
vehicle Manzi was in and stated ‘you’re not going anywhere.’ I then
tried to use my vehicle to prevent him from leaving the scene. Manzi
then accelerated and forced his vehicle between my truck and a
parked vehicle bearing Arizona registration BFA-7B4A causing
damage to both vehicles before driving away.
(Id. at 9).
Defendants drafted an accusatory instrument charging Plaintiff with (i) Criminal Mischief
in the Third Degree, (ii) Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, (iii) Reckless Endangerment in
the Second Degree, (iv) Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, (v) Reckless Driving, and (vi)
Leaving the Scene of an Incident without Reporting. (Id. ¶ 19). The application in support of the
arrest warrant did not contain a supporting statement from Yarbough and contained unspecified
“false information.” (Id. ¶ 21). Judge Gregory J. Johnston signed an arrest warrant for Plaintiff on
March 21, 2022. (Id. Ex. D). Plaintiff was arrested on May 14, 2022 and charged with “[1]
Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a E Felony in violation of New York Penal Law (NYPL)
145.05; [2] Criminal Mischief in the Fourth [Degree] in violation of NYPL 145.00, an A
Misdemeanor; [3] Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree in violation of NYPL 120.20, an

A Misdemeanor; [4] Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree in violation of NYPL 215.50(3), an
A Misdemeanor; [5] Reckless Driving in violation of 1212 New York Vehicle and Traffic Law
(NY VTL), an unclassified misdemeanor; and [6] Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without
Reporting, a traffic violation.” (Id. ¶ 22). Plaintiff alleges that Defendants arrested and prosecuted
him based solely upon “allegations made by a person that they knew were not accurate.” (Id. ¶ 23).
Defendants drafted the accusatory instruments, forwarded them to the District Attorney’s Office,
and filed them with the City of Beacon City Court. (Id. ¶ 26). All charges against Plaintiff were
dismissed on February 1, 2023. (Id. ¶ 27).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
I. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)

A Rule 12(b)(6) motion enables a court to dismiss a complaint for “failure to state a claim
upon which relief can be granted.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). “To survive a motion to dismiss, a
complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is
plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)).1 A claim is plausible on its face “when the plaintiff pleads
factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable
for the misconduct alleged.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). “The plausibility standard is

1 Unless otherwise indicated, case quotations omit all internal citations, quotation marks, footnotes, and
alterations.
not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant
has acted unlawfully.” Id. (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). The factual allegations pled “must
be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. “When
there are well-ple[d] factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine

whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. Thus, the Court
must “take all well-ple[d] factual allegations as true, and all reasonable inferences are drawn and
viewed in a light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Leeds v. Meltz, 85 F.3d 51, 53 (2d Cir. 1996).
The presumption of truth, however, “‘is inapplicable to legal conclusions,’ and ‘[t]hreadbare
recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not
suffice.’” Harris v. Mills, 572 F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678).
Therefore, a plaintiff must provide “more than labels and conclusions” to show entitlement to
relief. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
II. Documents Considered on a Motion to Dismiss
On a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, “the Court is entitled to consider facts alleged in the complaint

and documents attached to it or incorporated in it by reference, documents ‘integral’ to the
complaint and relied upon in it, and facts of which judicial notice may properly be taken under
Rule 201 of the Federal Rules of Evidence.” Heckman v. Town of Hempstead, 568 F. App’x 41,
43 (2d Cir. 2014); Manley v. Utzinger, No. 10-CV-02210, 2011 WL 2947008, at *1 n.1 (S.D.N.Y.
July 21, 2011) (“The Court may consider . . . documents incorporated into the complaint by
reference, and documents possessed by or known to the plaintiff and upon which plaintiff relied
in bringing the suit.”). Still, even if a document is not incorporated into the complaint by reference,
the Court may consider it “where the complaint ‘relies heavily upon its terms and effect,’ thereby
rendering the document ‘integral’ to the complaint.” DiFolco v. MSNBC Cable L.L.C., 622 F.3d
104, 111 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Mangiafico v. Blumenthal, 471 F.3d 391, 398 (2d Cir. 2006));
see also Schafer v. Direct Energy Servs., LLC, 845 F. App’x 81, 82 (2d Cir. 2021) (“Where an
extrinsic document is not incorporated by reference, the district court may nevertheless consider it
if the complaint relies heavily upon its terms and effect, which renders the document integral to

the complaint.”).
Both sides submitted extraneous documents for the Court’s consideration in connection
with the motion to dismiss.
Plaintiff attached the following documents as exhibits to the Second Amended Complaint:
(i) an Order of Protection against Plaintiff in favor of John Yarbough (SAC Ex. A); (ii) accusatory
instruments and a supporting statement from Edward Lopez (Id. Ex. B; Ex. C); and (iii) an arrest
warrant signed by Judge Gregory J. Johnston on March 21, 2022 (Idi. Ex. D). The Court can and
does consider these documents when analyzing Defendants’ motion to dismiss.2 United States ex
rel. Foreman v. AECOM, 19 F.4th 85, 106 (2d Cir. 2021) (noting that a district court may consider
“documents attached to the complaint as exhibits” when considering a motion to dismiss pursuant

to Rule 12(b)(6)).
Defendants submitted the following extraneous documents in support of their motion:
(i) an incident report dated March 20, 2022 (Doc. 21-4); (ii) videos from Defendants’ body-worn
cameras (Doc. 21-5); (iii) an arrest report dated May 14, 2022 (Doc. 21-6); and (iv) an arrest

2 Defendants note that the Second Amended Complaint only annexes a part of the accusatory instruments
because it omits one of the two supporting statements made by Edward Lopez. (Def. Br. at 5). Defendants
submit the complete accusatory instruments, which includes both of the supporting statements made by Mr.
Lopez. (Lee Aff. Ex. B). The Second Amended Complaint repeatedly refers to the statements made by Mr.
Lopez in support of the accusatory instruments, and Plaintiff’s claims rely heavily upon the accusatory
instruments and Mr. Lopez’s supporting statements. (SAC ¶¶ 19-21, 26). Plaintiff does not oppose
Defendants’ request that the Court consider the complete accusatory instruments, including both supporting
statements by Mr. Lopez. Accordingly, the Court can and does consider the accusatory instruments,
including both supporting statements by Mr. Lopez, as both incorporated by reference and integral to the
Second Amended Complaint.
warrant signed by Judge Scott L. Volkman dated April 6, 2022 (Doc. 21-7). Plaintiff submitted
videos from Defendants’ body-worn cameras. (Doc. 29-5).
The Second Amended Complaint does not refer to the March 20, 2022 incident report, the
May 14, 2022 arrest report, or the April 6, 2022 arrest warrant signed by Judge Volkman. Nor do

the allegations of the Second Amended Complaint heavily rely upon the contents of these
documents. These documents are not incorporated by reference or integral to the Second Amended
Complaint.3
With respect to the video footage, “courts specifically may consider video footage at the
motion to dismiss stage when the footage is referenced in the complaint and key allegations in the
complaint rest on the video.” Palm v. Brooks, No. 22-CV-09729, 2024 WL 1908388, at *2
(S.D.N.Y. May 1, 2024) (citing Norales v. Acevedo, No. 21-549, 2022 WL 17958450, at *2 (2d
Cir. Dec. 27, 2022); see also Cook v. Dubois, No. 19-CV-08317, 2021 WL 91293, at *2 (S.D.N.Y.
Jan. 11, 2021) (“The prison’s security cameras recorded the altercation in its entirety, and the
footage is incorporated by reference in Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint by several instances where

the Amended Complaint states that Plaintiff’s allegations are confirmed by the video.”); Komatsu
v. City of New York, No. 18-CV-03698, 2019 WL 4805904, at *8 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2019) (citing
Garcia v. Does, 779 F.3d 84, 87-88 (2d Cir. 2015)) (“The Complaint incorporates by reference
security footage of the Bronx courthouse on the day of the Resource Fair Incident.”). The Second
Amended Complaint specifically and repeatedly references the body camera footage. (SAC ¶¶ 13

3 Defendants alternatively argue that the Court can take judicial notice of these documents. (Def. Br. at 4).
“It is worth noting that several courts have taken judicial notice of incident reports, arrest reports, police
reports, and similar materials on a motion to dismiss, not for the truth of their contents, but rather to establish
their existence.” Alvarez v. Cnty. of Orange, N.Y., 95 F. Supp. 3d 385, 397 (S.D.N.Y. 2015) (collecting
cases). Accordingly, while the Court could take judicial notice of the incident report, arrest report, and
arrest warrant signed by Judge Volkman, there is simply no reason to do so here. Neither party actually
utilizes any of these documents in their motion papers.
(“The police officers were in possession of the body cam footage. The body cam footage shows
clearly that Mr. Edward was the aggressor. With the body cam footage, it was Mr. Lopez who
caused damages to Plaintiff’s vehicle.”), 79 (“The police officers had no probable cause to arrest
Plaintiff, since the officers had in their possession the bo[d]y camera footage, which clearly

contradicted the witness’ statement and allegation.”)). Accordingly, the Court will consider the
body-worn camera footage in adjudicating the motion to dismiss as the footage is incorporated by
reference and integral to the Second Amended Complaint.
ANALYSIS
Plaintiff presses two claims for relief under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for false arrest and malicious
prosecution. The Court addresses each claim for relief in turn.
I. First Claim for Relief: False Arrest
A claim for false arrest under Section 1983 “is substantially the same as a claim for false
arrest under New York law.” Bonadies v. Town of Amenia, No. 19-CV-10890, 2020 WL 5209510,
at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 2020) (quoting Weyant v. Okst, 101 F.3d 845, 852 (2d Cir. 1996)).

Under New York law, to “make a claim of false arrest, a plaintiff must show that: ‘(1) the defendant
intended to confine the plaintiff, (2) the plaintiff was conscious of the confinement, (3) the plaintiff
did not consent to the confinement, and (4) the confinement was not otherwise
privileged.’” DeJesus v. City of N.Y., 55 F. Supp. 3d 520, 523 (S.D.N.Y. 2014) (quoting Bernard
v. United States, 25 F.3d 98, 102 (2d Cir. 1994)). “The existence of probable cause to arrest
constitutes justification and is a complete defense to an action for false arrest, whether that action
is brought under state law or under § 1983.” Weyant, 101 F.3d at 852 (quoting Bernard, 25 F.3d
at 102). Defendants argue that there was probable cause to arrest Plaintiff, and thus Plaintiff’s false
arrest claim must fail. (Def. Br. at 8-10). The Court agrees.
“Probable cause to arrest . . . exists when the officer has knowledge or reasonably trustworthy
information of facts and circumstances that are sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution
in the belief that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing a crime.” Wierzbic v.
Howard, 836 Fed. App’x 31, 34-35 (2d Cir. 2020). To state a claim for false arrest in a “case

involving multiple charges, it is irrelevant whether probable cause exists for each individual
charge; instead, probable cause need only exist for the arrest.” Caraballo v. City of New York, No.
21-CV-00285, 2024 WL 1332609, at *4 (E.D.N.Y. Mar. 28, 2024) (citing Jaegly v. Couch, 439
F.3d 149, 153-54 (2d Cir. 2006)). The existence of an arrest warrant establishes a presumption that
the arresting officers had probable cause to effectuate the arrest. Gleis v. Buehler, 374 F. App’x
218, 220 (2d Cir. 2010); Galarza v. Monti, 327 F. Supp. 3d 594, 602 (S.D.N.Y. 2018), appeal
dismissed sub nom. Galarza v. N.Y.C. Police Dep’t, No. 18-2715, 2019 WL 4409695 (2d Cir. July
22, 2019) (“Under New York Law, ‘[a]n arrest warrant validly issued by a court having jurisdiction
precludes an action for false arrest against the municipality and the police officer involved with its
execution.’”). A plaintiff can rebut this presumption by showing that the arresting officers

“knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, made a false statement in
his [probable cause] affidavit or omitted material information, and that such false or omitted
information was necessary to the finding of probable cause.” Gleis, 374 F. App’x at 220.
Plaintiff concedes that his arrest was executed pursuant to an arrest warrant (SAC ¶ 21),
but nevertheless argues that the accusatory instruments were defective because they falsely allege
that Plaintiff—and not Mr. Lopez—was the initial aggressor. (Def. Br. at 7-9). Plaintiff’s argument
misses the mark. Whether Plaintiff was the initial aggressor in the altercation that day between
himself and Mr. Lopez is not relevant to the inquiry of whether probable cause existed for his
arrest. The body-worn camera footage clearly shows Plaintiff’s vehicle colliding with Mr. Lopez’s
truck, and further shows Plaintiff maneuvering around Mr. Lopez’s truck and quickly driving away
from the scene of the accident as police officers are running to that scene. (Lee Aff. Ex. E).
Defendants immediately canvassed the area following the collision, speaking with Mr. Lopez, Mr.
Yarbough, as well as a number of other individuals. (Id.). Mr. Yarbough, who was standing near

the site of the collision—told Defendants that there was an order of protection in his favor against
Plaintiff, and further that Plaintiff was harassing him earlier that day. (Id.). Defendants observed
Plaintiff fleeing the scene of an accident and took statements from individuals stating that Plaintiff
was in violation of an order of protection. The footage from Defendants’ body-worn cameras
makes clear Defendants had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff for criminal contempt and leaving
the scene of an accident. The arrest warrant issued by Judge Johnston on March 21, 2022 gives
rise, separately, to a presumption of probable cause. (SAC Ex. D). Plaintiff has failed to allege that
Defendants “knowingly and intentionally” made any false statements or omissions that would be
relevant to the probable cause determination. Gleis, 374 F. App’x at 220. Plaintiff’s conclusory
allegation that Defendants obtained an arrest warrant based on information that “they knew were

not accurate” is insufficient as Plaintiff fails to allege what these inaccuracies are. (SAC ¶ 23). The
statements made by Mr. Yarbough and Mr. Lopez to Defendants were consistent with the footage
from the body-worn cameras. Plaintiff has not, when drawing all reasonable inferences in his favor,
rebutted the presumption of probable cause established by the arrest warrant. In addition, the body-
worn camera footage independently supports a finding of probable cause to arrest Plaintiff.
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants’ motion to dismiss with respect to the first claim
for relief under Section 1983 for false arrest.
II. Second Claim for Relief: Malicious Prosecution
“In order to prevail on a § 1983 claim against a state actor for malicious prosecution, a
plaintiff must show a violation of his rights under the Fourth Amendment and must establish the
elements of a malicious prosecution claim under state law.” Frost v. New York City Police Dep’t,

980 F.3d 231, 242 (2d Cir. 2020) (citing Manganiello v. City of New York, 612 F.3d 149, 160-61
(2d Cir. 2010)). Under New York and federal law, a plaintiff must allege: “(1) the commencement
or continuation of a criminal proceeding by the defendant against the plaintiff, (2) the termination
of the proceeding in favor of the accused, (3) the absence of probable cause for the criminal
proceeding and (4) actual malice.” Franco v. Gunsalus, No. 22-339, 2023 WL 3590102, at *4 (2d
Cir. May 23, 2023) (quoting Kee v. City of New York, 12 F.4th 150, 161-62 (2d Cir. 2021)). “To
demonstrate a favorable termination of a criminal prosecution for purposes of the Fourth
Amendment claim under § 1983 for malicious prosecution, a plaintiff need only show that his
prosecution ended without a conviction.” Thompson v. Clark, 142 S.Ct. 1332, 1335 (2022). In
addition, when pressing a malicious prosecution claim under § 1983, the plaintiff must show also

“that there was (5) a sufficient post-arraignment liberty restraint to implicate the plaintiff’s Fourth
Amendment rights.” Rohman v. New York City Transit Auth., 215 F.3d 208, 215 (2d Cir. 2000).
Just as with false arrest, “the existence of probable cause is a complete defense to a claim
of malicious prosecution in New York.” Manganiello, 612 F.3d at 161-62 (quoting Savino v. City
of N.Y., 331 F.3d 63, 72 (2d Cir. 2003)). “The Second Circuit has clarified that probable cause for
a malicious prosecution claim means probable cause to believe that the prosecution could
succeed.” Delanuez v. City of Yonkers, No. 20-CV-04476, 2022 WL 16540682, at *8 (S.D.N.Y.
Oct. 28, 2022) (citing Boyd v. City of New York, 336 F.3d 72, 76 (2d Cir. 2003)). “Probable cause,
in the context of malicious prosecution, has been described as such facts and circumstances as
would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe the plaintiff guilty. Probable cause to prosecute
should not be conflated with probable cause to arrest. Indeed, the probable cause standard in the
malicious prosecution context is slightly higher than the standard for false arrest cases.” Thompson
v. Clark, No. 23-900, 2024 WL 2720230, at *3 (2d Cir. May 28, 2024). “Unlike the false arrest

analysis, however, Defendants here must have had probable cause for each charge for which
Plaintiff was prosecuted.” Rodriguez v. New York City Police Dep’t, No. 10-CV-00891, 2011 WL
5057205, at *5 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 24, 2011); see also Malarczyk v. Lovgren, No. 22-504, 2023 WL
8073099, at *2 (2d Cir. Nov. 21, 2023) (citing Kee v. City of New York, 12 F.4th 150, 166 (2d Cir.
2021)) (“Probable cause to prosecute is a complete defense to a claim of malicious prosecution but
such probable cause must be shown as to each crime charged in the underlying criminal action.”);
Ventillo v. Falco, No. 19-CV-03664, 2020 WL 7496294, at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 18, 2020) (in the
context of malicious prosecution, probable cause is required “for each charge” and therefore “the
Court must separately consider each count with which Plaintiff was charged”). “If probable cause
existed at the time of an arrest, it continues to exist at the time of prosecution unless it is

undermined by the discovery of some intervening fact.” Malarczyk, 2023 WL 8073099, at *2
(citing Kinzer v. Jackson, 316 F.3d 139, 144 (2d Cir. 2003)).
Defendants argue that probable cause existed to prosecute Plaintiff and that Plaintiff’s
allegations “make clear that the defendants had reasonably trustworthy information of facts and
circumstances sufficient to warrant a person of reasonable caution in the belief that the person to
be arrested has committed or is committing a crime.” (Def. Br. at 12 (citing Jenkins v. City of New
York, 478 F.3d 76, 84 (2d Cir. 2007))). Plaintiff argues that Defendants lacked probable cause
because they “knew that the information received were not accurate.” (Pl. Br. at 11 (citing SAC ¶
23)). The only support that Plaintiff provides for this argument is the body-worn camera footage
which Plaintiff claims shows that he did not commit any crimes. (Id.).
Plaintiff alleges that, after being arrested on May 14, 2022, he was charged with: “[1]
Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, a E Felony in violation of New York Penal Law (NYPL)

145.05; [2] Criminal Mischief in the Fourth [Degree] in violation of NYPL 145.00, an A
Misdemeanor; [3] Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree in violation of NYPL 120.20, an
A Misdemeanor; [4] Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree in violation of NYPL 215.50(3), an
A Misdemeanor; [5] Reckless Driving in violation of 1212 New York Vehicle and Traffic Law
(NY VTL), an unclassified misdemeanor; and [6] Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without
Reporting, a traffic violation.” (SAC ¶ 22). Each charge must be considered separately.
“A person is guilty of criminal mischief in the third degree when, with intent to damage
property of another person, and having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that
he or she has such right, he or she . . . damages property of another person in an amount exceeding
two hundred fifty dollars.” N.Y. Penal Law § 145.05. “A person is guilty of criminal mischief in

the fourth degree when, having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he or
she has such right, he or she . . . recklessly damages property of another person in an amount
exceeding two hundred fifty dollars.” N.Y. Penal Law § 145.00. “A person is guilty of reckless
endangerment in the second degree when he recklessly engages in conduct which creates a
substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person.” N.Y. Penal Law § 120.20. “A person
is guilty of criminal contempt in the second degree when he engages in . . . [i]ntentional
disobedience or resistance to the lawful process or other mandate of a court.” N.Y. Penal Law §
215.50(3). A person is guilty of reckless driving when he or she drives “in a manner which
unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably
endangers users of the public highway.” N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 1212 A person is guilty of
leaving the scene of an incident without reporting when that person “who, knowing or having
cause to know that damage has been caused to the real property or to the personal property . . . of
another, due to an incident involving the motor vehicle operated by such person” does not, “before

leaving the place where the damage occurred, stop, exhibit his or her license and insurance
identification card for such vehicle, when such card is required pursuant to articles six and eight
of this chapter, and give his or her name, residence, including street and number, insurance carrier
and insurance identification information including but not limited to the number and effective dates
of said individual’s insurance policy, and license number to the party sustaining the damage, or in
case the person sustaining the damage is not present at the place where the damage occurred then
he or she shall report the same as soon as physically able to the nearest police station, or judicial
officer.” N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 600.
Defendants personally observed (as shown in the footage from Defendants’ body-worn
cameras) Plaintiff hitting Lopez’s vehicle and then hitting a parked vehicle as he was leaving the

scene. (Lee Aff., Ex. E). Lopez’s statements, which were attached to the accusatory instrument,
corroborate Defendants’ observations. (Lee Aff., Ex. B). The allegations in the Second Amended
Complaint, the documents attached thereto, and Defendants’ body-worn camera footage show that
“facts and circumstances exist as would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe” that Plaintiff
was guilty of both criminal mischief charges, the reckless endangerment charge, and the reckless
driving charge. Thompson, 2024 WL 2720230, at *3. Defendants accordingly had probable cause
to prosecute Plaintiff for both criminal mischief charges, the reckless endangerment charge, and
the reckless driving charge. The same is true of the leaving the scene of an incident charge.
Defendants observed Plaintiff leave the scene of the incident, and as seen in the body-worn camera
footage, Plaintiff did not return to the scene to provide the required information to either
Defendants, Lopez, or the owner of the parked vehicle that Plaintiff hit following the accident.
(Lee Aff., Ex. E). Defendants accordingly had probable cause to prosecute Plaintiff for leaving the
scene of an incident without reporting.

The Court turns next to the criminal contempt charge arising from Plaintiff’s alleged
violation of the order of protection against Plaintiff in favor of Yarbough. The collision between
Lopez and Plaintiff occurred almost directly outside Yarbough’s home, with whom Defendants
spoke following Plaintiff’s flight from the scene. (Id.). Yarbough told Defendants that he had an
order of protection in his favor against Plaintiff. (Id.). The order of protection requires that Plaintiff
stay at least 500 feet away from Yarbough and his home, which is located at 426 Main Street.
(SAC Ex. A). The altercation between Plaintiff and Lopez, and the resulting collision between
their vehicles, occurred at 424 Main Street. (Lee Aff., Ex. E). Lopez’s statement to Defendants
provides that “426 Main Street is directly next to 424 Main Street.” (Lee Aff., Ex. B). These facts
and circumstances would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe” that Plaintiff was guilty of

the criminal contempt charge. Defendants accordingly had probable cause to prosecute Plaintiff
for criminal contempt. Thompson, 2024 WL 2720230, at *3.
Plaintiff fails to plausibly allege that Defendants knew or had reason to know that the
information they received from Mr. Lopez, as well as the other eyewitnesses they spoke with when
they canvassed the scene of the accident, were untrue. Plaintiff’s allegations—and the footage
from Defendants’ body-worn cameras—make clear that “such facts and circumstances existed as
would lead a reasonably prudent person to believe” that Plaintiff was guilty of the charges at issue
here at the time of the arrest. Thompson, 2024 WL 2720230, at *3. Plaintiff also fails to allege that
Defendants discovered “some intervening fact” after the time of the arrest that would in any way
undermine the probable cause that was established at the time of Plaintiff's arrest. Malarczyk, 2023
WL 8073099, at *2. “Given these facts, the slightly higher standard of probable cause required in
the malicious prosecution context that a reasonably prudent person would believe Plaintiff guilty
has been met.” Fuentes v. Schemmer, No. 18-CV-08207, 2023 WL 188739, at *11 (S.D.N.Y. Jan.
13, 2023). Plaintiff has failed to plausibly state a claim for malicious prosecution.
Accordingly, the Court grants Defendants’ motion to dismiss with respect to the second
claim for relief under Section 1983 for malicious prosecution.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ motion to dismiss and
dismisses the Second Amended Complaint with prejudice.*
The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to terminate the motion pending at Doc. 20 and
close this case.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: White Plains, New York rw
June 7, 2024
PHILIPM.HALPERN
United States District Judge

“Tn light of the conclusions reached herein, the Court need not and does not address Defendants’ arguments
regarding qualified immunity.

16

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10660632. Public record. Not legal advice.