A Viagra fan says a cop was way too “hard” on him.
A Bronx man is suing an NYPD detective and the city for false arrest, excessive force and violation of his civil rights over his bust for carrying Viagra.
Peter Williams, 54, claims in his Bronx Supreme Court suit that Detective Howell Daniel got too rough with him during his May 2011 arrest, causing Williams “severe and serious personal injuries to his mind and body.”
The suit said Williams was “falsely arrested for having prescribed Viagra” after Howell confronted him on Westchester Avenue that day.
After Williams spent four hours in a police van and two days in jail, the criminal case was dismissed, according to a Bronx DA spokesman, when prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Law-enforcement sources said Howell arrested Williams for possession of a controlled substance after seeing him exchange something with another person.
Sources also said that before that arrest, Williams had racked up seven other arrests since 1982 on charges including assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
The city’s Law Department, which will fight the suit, said, “We have received the legal papers and will review them thoroughly.”
Williams’ lawyer did not return a call seeking comment.