Nashville mother files $5 million lawsuit against ex-NYPD officer who broke into home

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--A woman who was threatened and insulted with racial slurs by a former NYPD officer is now suing the officer for $5 million.

The suit was filed by the victim in the Middle District of Tennessee Court in Nashville on Wednesday, detailing the events which ultimately led to Michael Reynolds resigning from the force and pleading guilty to several misdemeanors that resulted in a 15 day jail sentence.

The mother of four states in the suit the actions of Reynolds on July 9, 2018 left her in emotional distress, "reasonably fearing that her children would be murdered in front of her and fearing that she would be subject to deadly force herself."

According to details revealed in the suit, Reynolds was in Nashville for a bachelor party, joined by other officers. The bachelor party was being held in honor of a fellow NYPD officer, who the suit claims also threatened the mother and her neighbors. Specifically, the woman's suit states the following day after Reynolds broke into her home, threatened to "break every f****** bone" in her neck, and hurled racial slurs at she and her children, the officer for whom the bachelor party was being held stated "we're policemen from New York."

The suit states "he indicated that everyone needed to understand that Officer Reynold's home invasion was 'not really a big issue' that should be pursued any further."

The bachelor party attendees are accused of laughing about the home invasion and allegedly claimed they had immunity before leaving to go to dinner. The immunity allegation is also one brought up in the suit. The suit states on the evening of the home invasion, Reynolds was confronted by Metro Nashville Police Officers responding to her 9-1-1 call. The suit claims Reynolds was able to avoid arrest that night due to the "unwritten rule of professional courtesy" that "police officers tend to try and help out other police officers."

Although Reynolds and his party were able to return home to New York, the suit states Reynolds realized MNPD detectives were intent on pursuing the matter and would later meet with detectives where he gave a "full confession."

His arrest led to the loss of his job and conviction, for which he is serving a 15 day sentence. Now, the mother of four is suing Reynolds for $1.25 million in compensatory damages and $3.75 million in punitive damages. According to the victim's attorney Daniel Horwitz, Reynolds was served with process on Thursday.

See the full lawsuit below or CLICK HERE: