‘Model citizen’ files federal lawsuit against Somerville cop

On April 27, 2010, in Latest News, by The News Staff

By George P. Hassett

A 47-year-old Somerville woman is claiming she was pepper sprayed and falsely arrested by a Somerville police officer in a federal lawsuit.

The woman, Maria Medeiros, has no criminal record and was a "model citizen" who lived in Somerville for 35 years before her run-in with Officer Michael Silva on August 19, 2008, according to the lawsuit.

Police responded to Medeiros' neighbors for a domestic dispute that day and, at some point, Silva allegedly threw Medeiros against the wall and pepper sprayed her. He then arrested her for disorderly conduct and assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer.

In the lawsuit, Medeiros claims Silva then pushed her into the transport wagon and called her a "fat pig."

Medeiros is asking for compensation and punitive damages.