New York Woman Files Lawsuit For $30 Million After Police Put Her Picture On ‘Wanted’ Poster For Prostitution
The New York City Police Department falsely put a photo of a woman on a “wanted” poster labeling the Queens woman a hooker, she’s now suing the department for $30 million. 31-year-old Eva Lopez first found out she was on the wanted poster after a friend of her boyfriend’s informed the couple through text message according to New York Post. They were getting off a flight from Florida at the time according to court documents.
“I thought it was something fake. I really couldn’t believe the police would put me on a wanted poster,” she said. Lopez then contacted Detective Kevin Dwyer, whose name was listed on the poster. However, he “knew it was an issue before she called,” according to the lawsuit. Dwyer told Lopez the poster had been removed from the department’s Facebook page and other websites. Then it was revealed to her that the actual “wanted” person had a tattoo sleeve and Lopez does not. Lopez, a fashion influencer and bartender in Queens, NY knew the damage had already been done once the poster was made public.
“It was already spread around on social media. … It was still being passed around, still being talked about, still making me look like a thief and a prostitute,” Lopez told The Post. The poster stated, the police were searching for a suspect in connection to an Aug. 3 theft at an East Village apartment where a man had booked an escort on the internet. The man’s Rolex watch was stolen by the escort along with his roommates’ Chase credit card police said.
Lopez says she wasn’t in Manhattan on Aug 3, but was in Queens. The detective informed Lopez that the victims filed complaints with the police and presented her photos to them.
“The NYPD should commit to more thorough investigations before haphazardly accusing and identifying innocent people of fantastic lies and brazen crimes,” Lopez attorney Mark Shirian said, who argues that the escort may had been intentionally using Lopez’s social media photo.
“I just really want people to know that’s not me, in any way, shape or form. The girl has nothing to do with me,” she said. Lopez’s lawsuit against the police department is currently under review by the City Law Department.