A Newark woman who claimed that she was thrown against a car by an Elizabeth police officer causing the window of a car to break, has settled a lawsuit against the city for $145,000, according to court papers.
On Oct. 8, 2010, Jazmine Fortenberry, of Newark, went to celebrate her birthday to the Dolce Restaurant and Lounge on Broad Street.
Fortenberry claimed that while she was at the rear exit of the restaurant talking to a club bouncer about her missing keys, she saw two women being thrown out of the establishment.
As Fortenberry and the bouncer continued their conversation, Fortenberry claims that she was suddenly grabbed from behind by a city police officer, later identified as Will Torres.
According to the lawsuit, the officer threw her against a car with so much force that the car's window broke.
Fortenberry was then handcuffed and taken by police to Trinitas Hospital.
Once she arrived to the hospital, she was once again handcuffed to a hospital bed for approximately five hours, according to suit. Fortenberry was subsequently taken into custody and charged with a disorderly persons offenses.
On Oct. 27, City council members voted to settle the suit that Jazmine Fortenberry filed in U.S. District Court.