A New York man who called the police on Black Lives Matter protesters and falsely claim they were threatening to shoot him was ordered to pay them $500 each for violating their civil rights, the Associated Press reports.
David Elmendorf the former owner of Bumpy’s Polar Freeze ice-cream shop in Schenectady must pay nine demonstrators $500 each, totalling $4,500. New York Attorney General Letitia James brought the suit against Elmendorf.
Elmendorf became the first person in the state to be charged under a new state law targeting false, race-based police reports, according to AP.
James Mermigis, Elmendorf’s attorney said that the allegations were “categorically false” and that his client’s name was being smeared. Elmendorf, is now working in another state, and was never properly served so no defense was made in court, Mermigas said.
The lawsuit alleges that Elmendorf shouted racial slurs at protesters who came to his business to protest after racist messages he sent began circulating on social media.
He allegedly called the police and falsely claimed that there were “20 armed protesters who were threatening to shoot him,” prompting five police cars to arrive at the scene. Authorities made no arrests, the lawsuit said, according to the Hill.
Before the cops arrive, “Elmendorf physically and verbally threatened a group of Black protesters who stood peacefully on the porch of a private house near Bumpy’s,” including by shouting racial slurs, prior to the 911 call,” the lawsuit said.
In addition to the fine, Elmendorf is barred from making future threats against people because of their race and from brandishing a deadly weapon within 1,000 feet of any peaceful protest.
