Nationwide — Benjamin Jackson, an African American man from Paterson, New Jersey, is suing several city police officers for allegedly beating, sexually assaulting, and mocking him during a 2022 arrest. A federal judge ruled his lawsuit can move forward on key claims.

Jackson, 35, filed the lawsuit in November 2024, accusing four undercover Paterson police officers of stopping him without cause as he stepped out of his SUV one night in November 2022. According to the Atlanta Black Star, the complaint stated the officers claimed he appeared startled and touched his fanny pack suspiciously before they decided to frisk him.

Jackson said he objected to the search and repeatedly asked for a supervisor, but the officers ignored him. He told them he had stitches from recent brain surgery and suffered from seizures, yet one officer, Wisam Salameh, allegedly threw him to the ground, punched and kicked him, and slammed his head on the pavement. The officers then handcuffed him and took his bag.

The complaint also states that while Jackson was handcuffed, Salameh grabbed his genitals and said, “That’s for free, bro, don’t even worry about it,” as the other officers laughed instead of intervening.

Jackson said they later mocked him in the patrol car when he suffered a seizure, accusing him of faking it. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors found an injury to his testicle that required surgery and could lead to infertility.

Police later reported that Jackson had resisted their search and that his fanny pack contained a loaded handgun. He was convicted of unlawful firearm possession and sentenced to 42 months in prison before being paroled in May 2024.

In September 2025, Judge Jamel K. Semper ruled that Jackson’s claims of excessive force, assault, and denial of medical care against four officers could move forward. However, the judge dismissed other claims, including emotional distress and racial discrimination, citing lack of evidence.

Jackson’s lawsuit also accuses the City of Paterson of failing to train and supervise its officers, saying the department fostered a pattern of misconduct. City and police officials declined to comment, citing the ongoing case.