Man Files Lawsuit Against Nassau County Over Protest Sign Arrest On LIE
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A college student has filed a lawsuit against Nassau County, claiming he was falsely arrested for hanging protests signs from a Long Island Expressway overpass.
In the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, Daniel Martins argues his First Amendment rights were violated when he was arrested in June 2014.
According to the 21-year-old, he was arrested on disorderly conduct and criminal nuisance charges while hanging signs and flags from the overpass.
Martins, who says he is a member of Hofstra University's Libertarian Club, claims he was expressing his free speech rights in urging President Barack Obama's impeachment.
Following his arrest, Martins said he adhered to all the rules and there was never any accident or harm done to anyone.
"I took them down individually after I did the protest, and I brought them back, and I never left any trash or any garbage," he said. "I always cleaned up after myself, and I was always respectful about the time I was supposed to be there, which was two hours I did every Friday."
The state Department of Transportation had said only municipalities are permitted to grant permission to post signs on state highways.
The charges were dismissed in December 2014, Martins said.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
A spokesman for Nassau County declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
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