A man from New Jersey has filed a lawsuit against the Jersey City Police Department, claiming that several officers violently assaulted him outside a bar and placed a bag over his head. The incident reportedly took place in August 2022, and the lawsuit was officially filed in May 2024.
According to court documents, 42-year-old Daniel Martinez says he was beaten by officers near the Dullboy Bar in Jersey City without cause. The lawsuit says that the officers used excessive force, hitting him, placing a spit hood over his head, and arresting him in a violent and public manner.
Martinez claims that he was peacefully leaving the bar around 2 a.m. when he saw police nearby. He says he approached the officers to ask if everything was okay.
He then tried to walk away but was allegedly pushed to the ground by multiple officers. He says the officers began hitting him, and one of them kicked him in the face.
The lawsuit also says that one officer pulled a bag-like hood over Martinez’s head. These hoods, known as spit hoods, are sometimes used by police to prevent people from spitting or biting. However, Martinez claims that he was not acting violently or aggressively and had no reason to be restrained in that way.
The incident was captured in part by surveillance footage from nearby buildings and a bystander’s phone camera. The videos, according to the complaint, show officers holding Martinez down and placing the bag over his head.
Martinez says he suffered injuries to his face and head and had to be treated at a local hospital. He also says the event has caused him emotional distress and humiliation, especially because it happened in a public place with witnesses and was filmed.
The lawsuit names the City of Jersey City and four police officers as defendants. It accuses them of violating Martinez’s civil rights, using excessive force, and causing emotional and physical harm. Martinez is seeking financial compensation for his injuries and the trauma caused.
His lawyers say the case is about holding officers accountable and making sure that others are not treated the same way. “This is not just about one man being mistreated. It’s about a system where people are not treated fairly or respectfully,” said one of Martinez’s attorneys.
So far, the Jersey City Police Department and the city have not commented on the lawsuit. The officers named in the complaint have not made public statements either.
The case comes at a time when police conduct is being closely watched across the country. Use of force, especially in situations where people are not armed or not resisting, has sparked national conversations about police reform and accountability.
Civil rights advocates say that cases like Martinez’s are part of a larger issue. They argue that people of color and others from marginalized communities often face unfair treatment from law enforcement.
In New Jersey, there have been previous complaints about the use of force by police. In 2020, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office released new guidelines for how police should respond in stressful situations and how to use de-escalation tactics.
Those guidelines were meant to reduce violent encounters and promote safer interactions between police and the public.
Martinez’s legal team says that those guidelines were ignored in this case. They also say that the use of a spit hood was unnecessary and dangerous.
The lawsuit is now moving through the court system, and a judge will decide whether the case goes to trial. If it does, more evidence, including video footage and witness statements, will be presented in court.
For now, Martinez is focused on healing and speaking out about his experience. He says he wants justice, not just for himself but for others who may have gone through similar situations.
“I was just trying to enjoy a night out, and it turned into a nightmare,” Martinez said through his attorney. “Nobody should have to go through what I went through.”