Fall River man files lawsuit claiming excessive force against FRPD, city lawyer states officers did nothing wrong

A Fall River man is taking the Fall River Police Department to court for allegedly being beaten by officers who showed up to the wrong apartment.

Lawrence Galego recently filed a civil lawsuit against former Fall River Police Chief Albert Dupere and a handful of officers and dispatchers concerning an alleged physical assault and excessive use of force resulting in injuries and emotional destress.

According to the suit, on or about January 21, 2020, Galego was lawfully within his residence on the 3rd floor of his Division Street apartment when during the early morning hours, officers were dispatched to Division Street. The dispatch was reportedly for an incident which was identified as occurring in the first-floor front of the multi-family.

The suit alleges that at approximately 1:30 a.m., while alone in his apartment, Galego heard noises in the hallway outside of his apartment, followed by a knock on his door. Galego opened his door and observed several uniformed FRPD officers in the hallway.

Galego was then immediately struck in the face with a hard object, forced to the floor, violently struck again with a hard object, believed to be a firearm, in several places about his body, by one or more of the responding officers the suit alleges.

Galego also alleges that he lost consciousness and was so terrified that he soiled himself.

The suit states that after the officers had searched Galego’s apartment and assaulted him, an officer apologized and stated that they had gone to the
wrong address.

Galego’s representation claims that one report was falsified to hide the assault and that the incident caused loss of income for their client.

According to WGBH, a lawyer for the city stated that officers did nothing wrong and that police were responding to a call from people in the building who said they were hiding from someone with a gun.

“Given a potential armed hostage situation, the officers responded quickly and appropriately. Based on the information we have at this time, we are confident that the officers will be exonerated, and we look forward to the truth coming out in the course of this litigation.”