Goshen woman files $1.5 million lawsuit after alleged false arrest
Candy Pinkham filed the suit last week against Town of Goshen police officer and former Orange County sheriff’s candidate, Bernard Rivers, and four other law enforcement officers.
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A Goshen woman has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit after an alleged false arrest during an incident where a town police officer is heard on body camera threatening to shoot her dog.
Candy Pinkham filed the suit last week against Town of Goshen police officer and former Orange County sheriff’s candidate, Bernard Rivers, and four other law enforcement officers.
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Rivers was heard and seen on body camera video saying, “Do not open that door or I will shoot that {expletive} dog!”
Pinkham was arrested and charged with unlawful imprisonment, obstruction of governmental administration and harassment during what police say was a domestic incident last March, but the charges were later dropped.
The woman was accused of using her dog to falsely imprison her son’s boyfriend. The lawsuit claims the alleged victim was seen by police at the residence and was not being held against his will.
The lawsuit also names Keith Donahue, Andre, Frontis, Justin Velez, and Jane Doe as defendants - all sworn officers for the Town or Village of Goshen or Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Pinkham also filed a notice of claim against the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly releasing the video after the charges were dismissed and the case was sealed.
The notice of claim also names the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for confirming to News 12 that the case was sealed when we first inquired about the incident last month, after getting the video from an anonymous tipster.
“The abuse shown speaks to a very disturbing breakdown in civility and lawlessness amongst members of law enforcement that threatens everyone,” says Pinkham’s attorney, Michael Sussman.
News 12 reached out to the Town of Goshen Police Department and supervisor for comment on the lawsuit but didn’t not immediately receive a response.
County Attorney Rick Golden says, "The Pinkham federal lawsuit has no merit as to the county’s two deputy sheriffs named in the action. My office will aggressively defend this matter and seek to have it dismissed against the county defendants at the earliest opportunity.”
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office had no comment.
