Trending Now - Jury Grants $522K to Detainee in New Haven Police Case

WHO:

New Haven Independent - Kijana Cornelius, a 29-year-old man, was the police detainee involved in the case.

NH Register - The police officers involved were from the New Haven Police Department.

WHAT:

New Haven Independent - A federal jury awarded Kijana Cornelius $522,000 after finding that two city police officers negligently inflicted "emotional distress" on him.

NH Register - The jury's award was in response to the incident where police threw Cornelius to the floor in lockup after his arrest.

WHERE:

New Haven Independent - The incident occurred in New Haven, Connecticut.

WHEN:

New Haven Independent - The events leading to the lawsuit took place in 2018, specifically during an arrest in April 2018.

WHY:

New Haven Independent - The jury found that the actions of the police officers caused emotional distress to Cornelius.

HOW:

New Haven Independent - Cornelius was tackled by police and subsequently detained in handcuffs and ankle shackles in police lockup.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 19:26 UTC)

A federal jury has awarded Kijana Cornelius $522,000 after determining that two officers from the New Haven Police Department negligently inflicted emotional distress on him during an arrest in April 2018. The incident involved police tackling Cornelius and throwing him to the floor while he was detained in handcuffs and ankle shackles. The jury's decision came in response to the distress caused by the officers' actions during the arrest.