Jurors Said Robert Besedin Was Subjected to Excessive Force, Battery, Malicious Prosecution and Abuse of Process
A federal jury awarded $2.36 million to a 79-year-old Baldwin resident and Air Force veteran who was physically abused by two Nassau County police officers at his home seven years ago.
On February 7, 2017 at approximately 7:10 p.m., Robert Besedin was peacefully and lawfully standing on the porch of his Baldwin home speaking with officers. According to Besedin’s lawyer, Frederick K. Brewington, while they spoke, Nassau County police officers Stephen Beckwith and Dominick Mantovani then attacked Besedin, rushed him, grabbed him by his neck, hurled him down four steps and body slammed him to the ground. Beckwith and Mantovani then further abused Besedin and wrongfully and abusively cuffed him, and then slammed him down on his back and buttock on the concrete steps of his own home. Although Besedin complied with the officers’ requests, Brewington said, the officers continued to abuse Besedin.
Beckwith and Mantovani wrote and gave false statements and testimony and subjected Besedin to a malicious abuse of the criminal process, which took nearly a year. On January 29, 2018, the felony charge of assault on a police officer and the other charges were dismissed.
Brewington said his client sustained multiple injuries including, but not limited to, being subjected to the criminal justice system, hitting his head, being knocked unconscious, traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, lacerations and cuts, injury to his left elbow and arms, injury to his wrists, injury to his shoulders, injury to his back and being manhandled during his unlawful abuse. He also suffered scarring, loss of blood, physical pain, embarrassment, mental pain and suffering, incarceration, property damage, damage to name and reputation, court fees, legal fees and costs, and medical costs/fees.
On February 7, 2018, Besedin filed a federal lawsuit against the County of Nassau, Nassau County Police Department, Beckwith and Mantovani. On October 30, 2024, a jury found that Mantovani engaged in excessive force, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process and Beckwith engaged in excessive force and malicious prosecution. They also awarded Besedin $1.6 million in punitive damages and an additional $760,000 in compensatory damages.
“This is a vindication for Mr. Besedin who did deserve to be abused by people who should have wanted to protect him,” Brewington said. “Nassau County failed to discipline or investigate the actions of these officers and, therefore, there was no accountability for the violence that Mr. Besedin was subjected to.”