The West New York man at the center of a controversial, fiery car crash in Jersey City last summer is suing the city and several members of their police department for allegations including brutality, excessive force and false arrest.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“One or more of the Defendants, while pointing their service weapons, commanded that plaintiff raise his hands. Plaintiff was, thus, forced to cease seeking to smother the flames engulfing his body or risk being shot,” the lawsuit, filed in Hudson County Superior Court on June 26th, says.
“Instead of assisting or providing aid to Plaintiff, Defendants Ludwig, Khan, Rodriguez, Kosinski and Encarnacion proceeded to attack Plaintiff with kicks to the head and body while still engulfed in flames.”
The lawsuit was first reported by the Asbury Park Press.
Miguel Feliz, 29, of West New York, was an innocent man involved in a fiery crash on June 4th, 2017, on Tonnelle Avenue in Jersey City where four police officers were indicted for official misconduct.
After his vehicle caught on fire, video from the incident showed that Feliz was kicked by officers while he was still engulfed in flames.
In the suit, Feliz, names the City of Jersey City, the Jersey City Police Department, former Chief Phillip Zacche, Public Safety Director James Shea, Officers MD Khan, Eric Kosinski, Francisco Rodriguez, Enrique Encarnacion and Lt. Keith Ludwig as defendants.
Khan, Kosinski, Rodriguez and Ludwig were indicted by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for official misconduct, with Khan and Kosinski also charged with attempted murder, back in November.
In July of last year, the four aforementioned officers were suspended and two deputy chiefs were reassigned as a result of the fiery crash.
Attorneys for Feliz did not return calls seeking comment, while a city spokeswoman said it was their policy not to comment on ongoing litigation.
