Jolly Ranchers Cost NYPD $33,000

In 2013, NYPD officers arrested three Brooklyn men named Love Olatunjiojo, Omar Ferriera, and Jimmy Santos in Coney Island after mistaking Jolly Rancher candies for crystal meth. Officers stopped Olatunjiojo and Ferriera outside an IT'SUGAR store, while they arrested Santos after he protested in front of his 3-year-old daughter and an officer allegedly punched him. Police held the men for about 24 hours after a field test reportedly identified the candy as drugs, but an NYPD laboratory later confirmed it contained no controlled substances. New York City settled their lawsuit for $33,000, paying $4,000 each to Olatunjiojo and Ferriera and $25,000 to Santos.

Previous Fact Next Fact