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The angry mob cornered Michael Zenquis on a Kensington street. One man swung a baseball bat. Another wielded a plank of lumber. Others used their fists. The blows came down as a female onlooker screamed "Rapist!"
On that steamy June 1, 2009, afternoon, the mob meted out vigilante justice as retribution for the brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl.
Only they got the wrong guy. Zenquis, who ended up in the hospital, was innocent.
"Not only was he beaten up by a bunch of civilians who jumped him out of the clear blue sky, he was also identified as a rapist and not just a rapist, but a child rapist," said Zenquis' attorney, Jonathan Feinberg. "He was labeled as this monster criminal with no basis whatsoever."
Yesterday, Zenquis 28, filed a federal civil lawsuit against the city and police, claiming that officers "encouraged civilians to engage in vigilante justice."
The suit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, alleges that police circulated a photo of Zenquis after receiving a "nonspecific and erroneous citizen tip" that a man nicknamed "Romeo" may have been involved in the rape. Zenquis, who lives in Northeast Philly but has friends in Kensington, is known as "Romeo" for his singing voice, the lawsuit says.
In fact, the real monster was Jose Carrasquillo. The capture of Carrasquillo made national headlines one day later, when a seething crowd surrounded and beat him after police released his name and photo as a "person of interest" in the rape. The crowd - not the same group that attacked Zenquis - held Carrasquillo until police arrived.
Last year, a judge sentenced Carrasquillo to 30 to 66 years in prison for the rape of the girl.
In thanking the men who apprehended Carrasquillo, the girl's father, Clifford Reynolds, had apologized to Zenquis.
Zenquis' lawsuit claims that officers not only encouraged the "street justice" but that higher ups, including Mayor Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, condoned it. The men who attacked and detained Carrasquillo were not charged. At the time, Nutter and Ramsey suggested that their actions were understandable, given the crime.
Police did, however, arrest two men identified by Zenquis as his attackers.
Police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers yesterday said citizens are always urged to call 9-1-1 and to leave policing to police.
Evers said police never circulated a photo of Zenquis. "There was only one person we were looking for and that was Carrasquillo," he said.
On that steamy June 1, 2009, afternoon, the mob meted out vigilante justice as retribution for the brutal rape of an 11-year-old girl.
Only they got the wrong guy. Zenquis, who ended up in the hospital, was innocent.
"Not only was he beaten up by a bunch of civilians who jumped him out of the clear blue sky, he was also identified as a rapist and not just a rapist, but a child rapist," said Zenquis' attorney, Jonathan Feinberg. "He was labeled as this monster criminal with no basis whatsoever."
Yesterday, Zenquis 28, filed a federal civil lawsuit against the city and police, claiming that officers "encouraged civilians to engage in vigilante justice."
The suit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, alleges that police circulated a photo of Zenquis after receiving a "nonspecific and erroneous citizen tip" that a man nicknamed "Romeo" may have been involved in the rape. Zenquis, who lives in Northeast Philly but has friends in Kensington, is known as "Romeo" for his singing voice, the lawsuit says.
In fact, the real monster was Jose Carrasquillo. The capture of Carrasquillo made national headlines one day later, when a seething crowd surrounded and beat him after police released his name and photo as a "person of interest" in the rape. The crowd - not the same group that attacked Zenquis - held Carrasquillo until police arrived.
Last year, a judge sentenced Carrasquillo to 30 to 66 years in prison for the rape of the girl.
In thanking the men who apprehended Carrasquillo, the girl's father, Clifford Reynolds, had apologized to Zenquis.
Zenquis' lawsuit claims that officers not only encouraged the "street justice" but that higher ups, including Mayor Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, condoned it. The men who attacked and detained Carrasquillo were not charged. At the time, Nutter and Ramsey suggested that their actions were understandable, given the crime.
Police did, however, arrest two men identified by Zenquis as his attackers.
Police spokesman Lt. Raymond Evers yesterday said citizens are always urged to call 9-1-1 and to leave policing to police.
Evers said police never circulated a photo of Zenquis. "There was only one person we were looking for and that was Carrasquillo," he said.
What do you think? Does he have a case? The real rapist Carrasquillo was also beaten by a mob.
The police and the media put a suspect's face on the news and papers. At what point are they responsible for what the people do?
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