Queens, New York — A Venezuelan migrant father whose arrest inside a New York City shelter drew national attention after body camera footage went viral is now suing New York City and several police officers, alleging excessive force, false arrest and the traumatic separation of his family.
The federal lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn, was brought by Yanny Cordero and his wife, Andrea Parra Mendoza, who claim the confrontation inside a city-run shelter on Archer Avenue in Queens caused lasting physical and emotional harm to their family.
The allegations outlined in the lawsuit have not yet been proven in court, and the city has not publicly responded to the filing.
Lawsuit Alleges Officers Used Excessive Force
According to the complaint, the incident began when Cordero attempted to bring dinner to his wife and children inside the shelter.
The lawsuit claims security personnel gave conflicting instructions about where food could be taken and that, while Cordero was trying to communicate using a translation app, one security guard allegedly insulted him with racial slurs, struck him in the face and called police.
When officers arrived, the lawsuit alleges the situation escalated almost immediately.
According to the filing, one officer approached Cordero from behind and attempted to remove his infant son from his arms before speaking with him.
The family claims Cordero repeatedly told officers in Spanish that the child was his, but alleges police did not attempt to communicate with him in a language he understood.
Father Says He Was Tased While Holding His Infant
The lawsuit alleges officers pushed Cordero against an elevator door before deploying a Taser while he was still holding his baby.
According to the filing, officers used a Taser four times, including twice while the infant remained in his arms.
The complaint further alleges Cordero was punched in the head, thrown onto a table and shocked again while several officers restrained him on the floor.
The lawsuit also claims Andrea Parra Mendoza was pushed to the ground as shelter staff removed the child from Cordero’s arms. Video from the incident, which spread widely online, appeared to show the chaotic struggle inside the shelter.
Family Says Children Were Separated for Days
After the confrontation, the lawsuit alleges police transported the family to a precinct, where the parents were separated from their three children.
According to the complaint, the parents could hear their children crying in another room but were repeatedly denied requests to see them.
The lawsuit states an order of protection was later issued against the parents, and the children were not reunited with them until three days later, after the family agreed to relocate to another shelter.
Cordero also alleges he continues to suffer from head injuries related to the incident, while his children experience ongoing emotional trauma and separation anxiety.
Criminal Charges Were Later Dismissed
The lawsuit notes that all criminal charges against Cordero were dismissed in December 2024, and that he was later acquitted at trial in July 2025.
At the time of the incident, then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams publicly defended the officers’ actions, saying the father appeared intoxicated and that police were acting to protect the child.
The family’s lawsuit now seeks damages, arguing the officers’ actions violated their constitutional rights and caused lasting physical and emotional harm. The case will move through federal court, where the allegations will be evaluated.
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