A woman, arrested by Haverhill Police in 2012, has filed a federal suit against the city of Haverhill, alleging civil rights violations.
Elizabeth Centeno, represented by attorneys Bradford E. Keene of Lynnfield and John E. Saliba of Boston, named the city, nine police officers and up to 10 unknown persons in a suit filed last Wednesday in United States District Court, Boston. Details were not available at deadline.
The police officers named are David M. Cox, David MacKinnon, Kevin Lynch, Dennis Moriarty, John Arahovites, Joseph Florent, Buckley and Stephen Doherty. A former patrolman, Victor “Manny” Pellot, was also named in the suit. Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini fired Pellot during July, 2013, for allegedly stalking and threatening his estranged wife and her boyfriend.
“We haven’t even been served by this yet. We’ll have a response when we receive the complaint,” said Haverhill City Solicitor William D. Cox Jr. The city lawyer is unrelated to patrolman Cox.
Three years ago, Centeno, then 34, of 68 Forest Acres Drive, was arrested at 697 South Main St. and charged with disorderly conduct, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon—a shod foot, child endangerment and possession of a class E drug.
Calls and emails to Centeno were not returned by deadline.