Crime & Safety

Third Teen Locked Overnight in Police Van Sues; Lawsuits Consolidated

Three teens arrested at a house party in March of 2011 were locked inside a police van for 15 hours without food or water, according to lawsuits. They say their civil rights were violated.

A U.S. District Court Judge has consolidated three lawsuits filed by teens who were locked in a Fort Lee police van for 15 hours in below-freezing temperatures without food or water, according to court documents.

Kevin Jun, Adam Kim and Liam Eisenberg have all sued the police department and borough of Fort Lee, claiming they were falsely arrested, detained and not read their Miranda Rights following a house party in March of 2011. The trio, who were 16 and 17 at the time, allege a slew of civil rights violations in the federal suit, which was consolidated by U.S. District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise in early June of 2013.

The suit claims that Fort Lee police officers called some of the party-goers racial epitaphs – "chinks" – and transported 12 teens in a police van to headquarters. 

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Seven of the teens were freed, but five were locked in the steel-caged van for about 15 hours without food, water or restroom facilities in subzero temperatures until a passerby heard them, the lawsuit claims.

Officers during the 15-hour ordeal made multiple food runs to Wendy's and a diner, lawyers for the plaintiffs claim.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Despite yelling, screaming, and banging on the walls of the van, the Fort Lee Police Officers failed to respond to cries of the minors," Adam Kim's complaint reads. "Plaintiff Adam Kim and others were hopeless, traumatized and exhausted."

Kevin Jun's attorney, Elton Bozanian, said he continues to have nightmares, which prevents him from restful sleep.

"Kevin Jun suffered severe mental and emotional anguish, loss of freedom, humiliation, and anxiety," he wrote in the complaint, filed in May. "He has suffered permanent damages due to the discriminatory acts and unlawful conduct of the Fort Lee Police Officers involved in this case."

The other plaintiffs – now in college – have also claimed to have experienced anxiety, post traumatic stress, and depression since the March 25, 2011 incident.

Named in the suit are former Police Chief Thomas O. Ripoli, Captain Stephen Gallagher, Sergeant Matthew Hintze, and Sergeant Gergory Boylan. Police officers named include Cory Horton, Anthony Bozzetti, John G. Reuter, Christina Blue, Philip Ross, Michele Morgenstern, David Kurz, Patrick Kellett, and James Lee.

The department has maintained that an internal affairs investigation performed following the incident revealed no malice or discrimination by police, chalking it up to what Mayor Mark Sokolich called "human error." 

One officer was demoted, three received "major discipline" and five "minor discipline," borough officials previously told Patch. Town and police officials have not identified the disciplined officers.

Police Chief Keith Bendul told northjersey.com that the department has reviewed best practices to prevent such events in the future, calling it an "unfortunate incident." 

He told the paper the department will be disputing some of the claims alleged in the lawsuit but did not identify which claims.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.