A Democratic candidate running for the office of Haverstraw mayor filed a $7 million lawsuit against the village and its police force, claiming harassment.

Craig Jackson is one of three Democratic mayoral candidates in the village. Jackson claims the village and its police officers went beyond the scope of the law to prove he's actually a resident of Haverstraw.

Jackson moved to West Street four months ago and filed papers to run as a candidate, signing an affidavit verifying his address in the process. Jackson says the police and a building inspector checked his address at his home. Jackson also claims the village ran a credit check on him.

Jackson says the harassment started after he challenged candidate Michael Kolhut, who has the Democratic endorsement of the village. ?It's clear they're trying to keep me from exercising my First and 14th Amendment rights ?.I believe they're doing it because I am an African-American challenging the power structure,? says Jackson.

The Haverstraw Police Department answered questions about the lawsuit saying they were only responding to a Board of Elections inquiry to verify Jackson's address. A lawyer for the village denied the accusations.