A woman beaten by a Newark, New Jersey police officer during a routine traffic stop in October of 2004 has just been awarded $2.7 million by a jury, a monstrously high sum for an incident where no one was killed. But it is a reflection of just how awful the encounter was. So what happened?


Sara Lesende was attempting to find a parking spot for her car when the 90-lb mother of two was approached by Newark police officer Arnold Borrero. After an argument over the ticket Borrero allegedly pulled his gun out, pointed it at various bystanders, and eventually beat Lesende about the face, according to court documents from a recent case.

When a 70-year-old man tried to intervene, Borrero threatened to shoot the man. Eventually, Borerro was fired and the city settled with the 70-year-old man.


Two sources have confirmed the amount and the verdict, which was just handed down.