Chazz Anderson has filed a civil rights lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against multiple defendants, including Essex County College and its police department. The complaint alleges that Anderson was unlawfully arrested and maliciously prosecuted without probable cause, following an incident at the college. The suit claims violations of his constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. §1983, citing false arrest, malicious prosecution, conspiracy to prosecute maliciously, and discrimination based on race and religion. The complaint details how Anderson was accused by another student, leading to his arrest by campus police despite video evidence and witness accounts supporting his innocence. The charges were eventually dismissed for lack of prosecution. Anderson seeks compensatory and punitive damages for emotional distress, reputational harm, and continued educational barriers due to a “dean’s hold” on his account.
Source: 225cv17302_Anderson_v_County_of_Essex_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
