PHILADELPHIA – A Philadelphia man is suing Cheltenham Township alleging its police department and a detective falsely arrested him over a firearm.
Rasheed Waters filed a lawsuit Jan. 19 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Cheltenham Township, the Cheltenham Township Police Department and detective John Barr, alleging malicious prosecution, false arrest and false imprisonment.
In August 2012, the complaint states, while Waters watching his mother’s apartment, while she was on vacation in Florida, Waters reported to police that a woman falsely collected possessions – that included a firearm -- from the house.
Around September 2012, Barr questioned him, as though the plaintiff was a suspect, which angered Waters, the suit states. On Oct. 3, 2012, the suit adds, Waters' vehicle was surrounded by Upper Darby police officers, which led to the plaintiff's eventual arrest.
The complaint states an attorney later showed police surveillance footage of Waters shopping at the time some reported burglaries took place. In all, Waters says he spent 16 months in custody, awaiting trial.
Water seeks compensatory and punitive damages for severe economic harm, emotional distress, humiliation as well as pain and suffering. He is represented by attorney Michael B. Weisberg of Philadelphia.
U.S. District for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Case number 2:16-cv-00216-TJS