Man sues TPD claiming they beat him over traffic violation

TRENTON >> For blowing through a red light, a city man claims he was beat black and blue.

Genesis Torres alleges in a lawsuit that city police detectives Harrison Steimle and Jorge Mejia “assaulted and battered” him Sept. 2, 2017, in the parking lot of a city liquor on the 200 block of Cass Street.

The beatdown started as a simple car stop, but quickly turned violent Torres said in a previous interview with the newspaper. His lawyer said he was charged for allegedly scuffling with the cops, in what his attorney said at the time seemed like cops trying to C.Y.A.

Torres was arrested again on drug charges a month later. His lawyer claimed he was targeted for filing an internal affairs complaint against the officers, an allegation Trenton Police denied.

Torres filed a tort claim notice in December 2017, and followed suit this month. The lawsuit says he suffered a concussion, fractured nasal bone, zygomatic arch fracture, fractured orbital bones, ethmoid sinus fracture and a left frontal sinus fracture.

Genesis and his legal team provided photos of his injuries to The Trentonian, which showed him with blackened eyes, scratches and cuts. He still had a shiner under his right eye when he spoke to this newspaper in September 2017.

Torres claimed his civil rights were violated, and he suffered physical pain, emotional distress and mental trauma from the beatdown, according to the lawsuit.

The Trenton man said he spent three days in the hospital following the September beating. He was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and drug possession as part of his dustup with the cops who alleged he fought them, violently swinging his arms while trying to escape on foot.

Torres claimed he blacked out after bashing his head on the concrete when he was pushed over a guardrail by the detectives while trying to surrender.

“I didn’t want to get shot,” he said in a previous interview. “I didn’t want them to think I had a weapon.”

A spokeswoman from the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said Friday that the serious felony offenses against Torres were dismissed in July 2018. Remaining disorderly persons and motor vehicle offenses were remanded to municipal court where they’re pending.

Torres is represented in the civil case by attorneys Robin Lord and Cliff Bidlingmaier III.

Lord did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.