Man claims cops pulled a prank on him after he filed a parking complaint

These cops are clowns.

The Gadfly, who has repeatedly called 311 to complain about city workers’ vehicles clogging sidewalks, bike lanes and bus stops in downtown Brooklyn, claims cops started calling him in retaliation.

Justin Sherwood alleges in the lawsuit that he was harassed three times in August and September 2021, including once by a caller claiming to be a detective who yelled, “Stop calling you jerk!”

Another caller introduced himself as an NYPD officer and hung up; and the third call was made by an NYPD officer posing as a 311 operator, according to court documents.

The incidents were reported on the StreetsblogNYC website on October 18, 2021, and on the same day, Sherwood claims to have received a message from a strange number warning him to “Stay Away,” according to a lawsuit he filed in Brooklyn. Federal Court v. City, NYPD, and others.

The text came shortly after Sherwood filed 11 complaints to 311 about illegally parked vehicles in 20 minutes, he said in a court document.

Sherwood has been campaigning for years against illegal parking by government employees, including police officers, on J Street, a crowded area that contains several courthouses, a large US post office, schools and the FDNY headquarters.

“Mr. Sherwood is taking this issue seriously because illegally parked cars on sidewalks and bike lanes are dangerous and police should not disregard the laws they are supposed to abide by and create safety hazards without any accountability,” he told The Post. attorney Gideon Oliver.

The Civilian Complaints Board substantiated complaints of abuse of power against four officers – John Madera; Arthur Sturman; Thiagom Reiss and Detective Samantha Sturman on August, September and October calls, records show.

The City Legal Department and the NYPD declined to comment on the allegations.