Lawsuit alleges Nassau police injured Lyft driver Yves Blaise in a case of 'mistaken identity'

Nassau County detectives broke the ribs and chipped the tooth of a Hauppauge Lyft driver during a 2022 arrest on a grand larceny charge that was dropped when law enforcement officials determined they arrested the wrong person, a federal lawsuit alleges.

The suit, which names the county, its police department and eight detectives, states that on Feb. 7, 2022, law enforcement officers were waiting at a North Bellmore home for a suspect who was participating in a scam of a South Shore grandmother.

The Lyft driver, Yves Blaise, 64, arrived at or near the woman's home to pick up a fare and was arrested in a case of "mistaken identity," according to Anthony LaPinta, his Hauppauge-based attorney.

During the arrest, LaPinta said, Blaise, who is Haitian and doesn’t speak much English, was tackled and thrown to the ground with "excessive force" by the detectives.

"Mr. Blaise was an innocent Lyft driver victimized by brazen officers who failed to conduct a proper investigation before arresting and charging him with serious criminal charges that were eventually dismissed," LaPinta said. "Mr. Blaise was assaulted and treated like an animal while being arrested for crimes he didn't commit."

A Nassau police spokesman declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

A spokesman for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman did not respond to requests for comment.

In its June 30 response to the lawsuit, Deputy Nassau County Attorney John Carnevale denied the allegations and said Blaise’s rights were not violated by the detectives.

"Nassau County police officers had probable cause to arrest [Blaise] based on a legitimate law enforcement investigation," Carnevale wrote, adding that detectives acted in "good faith and without malice" during the encounter.

Carnevale added that any injuries sustained by Blaise during the arrest were caused by his "own actions" and his "negligent, reckless and/or wrongful conduct."

Charging documents show Nassau police were investigating an elder scam in which a North Bellmore grandmother was contacted by an individual claiming that her grandson was in custody and needed $9,000 to post bond. The scammer told the victim that a second individual would arrive at the Oakfield Avenue home to pick up the cash, charging documents state.

Shortly thereafter, Blaise, working in his capacity as a Lyft driver, arrived in the vicinity of the victim’s home, LaPinta said.

The female victim approached Blaise and asked him to help her with some bags, LaPinta said. When the driver exited the vehicle, he was "violently tackled and thrown to the ground" by plainclothes detectives "without justification or cause," the lawsuit states.

During the arrest, Blaise suffered fractured ribs and a chipped tooth, LaPinta said.

But the charging documents provide a different sequence of events.

Nassau detectives wrote that at 11:15 a.m., Blaise arrived at the home, approached the victim, provided her with identification and took possession of an envelope believed to be $9,000 in cash.

During his arrest, Blaise "refused to place his arms behind his back when demanded to several times," the document states.

Blaise allegedly told detectives: "I’m just here to pick up money. Why are you doing all of this," the document added.

LaPinta, however, said the charging documents are pure fiction and that client never asked for money or took possession of an envelope.

Blaise was charged with third-degree larceny and resisting arrest.

After spending months fighting the case, prosecutors dropped the charges on Jan. 5, 2023, after the District Attorney’s Office received proof from Lyft that Blaise was at the home to pick up a customer, LaPinta said.

A spokeswoman for Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly denied comment on why her office dismissed the case.

The lawsuit, which seeks undetermined punitive and compensatory damages, cites a host of claims including false arrest, excessive force, assault, battery, conspiracy, malicious prosecution and a due process violation of Blaise’s 4th Amendment rights.

"Mr. Blaise wants his day in court to hold these officers accountable for their inexcusable actions," LaPinta said.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.