Playboy Playmate Sues New York Cops

(New York Post) - A Playboy Playmate and astrologist is suing the New York Police Department after cops allegedly manhandled her during an incident in 2006.

Stephanie Adams, 40, says cops drew their guns on her and shoved her face into a New York City pavement after a deranged cabby falsely claimed she had threatened to shoot him.

Now, the first openly lesbian Playboy bunny, who is a married-to-a-man mom, has the cops in court, where she is suing them and the city for using excessive force in the 2006 run-in.

"We're very pleased she has her case before the jury," her lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein said. "It's been a long time coming."

The spirituality writer had been taking a cab back to her apartment on May 25, 2006, when the driver refused to take her closer to her building.

She said he started cursing at her, so she called 911, prompting cabby Eric Darko to do the same. He falsely told the 911 operator that she had threatened to shoot him, so cops were on high alert.

Adams says plainclothes officers went up to her with their guns drawn and told her not to move.

She says that despite her following their directives, one cop shoved her face down and pinned her.

Adams' trial lawyer, Nina Neumunz, contended that was unnecessary and that officers should have been able to tell she was unarmed because she was wearing a tight midriff-baring top and tight jeans.

Sgt. John Rajan testified she did not react when he told her to lie face down, so he had to make her.

"It was a controlled drop to the ground," he said, denying Adams' contention that he "mashed" her face. "We didn't know if she had a firearm."

But he admitted he did not see a need to frisk her after the drop because "she was wearing tight-fitting clothing, and there was no place to conceal a weapon."

Adams' doctor, David Adin, testified Friday that the incident injured spinal discs, causing her severe back pain.

Adams' suit also named Darko, who defaulted in the case. He lost his cab license soon after the incident, thanks, in part, to his contention to city investigators that he thought Adams was a vampire.

Adams declined to comment Friday.

Read more: New York Post