Assaulted victim sues after NYPD takes him for psychological evaluation

The cops definitely had a “sixth sense” about this one.

A Staten Island assault victim claims cops dragged him to a psychiatric ward after he mentioned that one of his attackers looked like someone he knew who had died.

Cops confused this with the meaning of “I see dead people”, according to a lawsuit.

Glenn Garofano, 70, called 911 after he was assaulted by three men who stole money, an ear ring and a gold chain from him as he was walking late at night in Meiers Corners.

Responding officers asked him if he knew his attackers.

“I said, ‘I don’t know who the guy is, but he looks like (an acquaintance),’ who was deceased, he claimed.

sergeant. Sean Tiernan then inexplicably said, “We’re putting you in a mental hospital because you said you’re seeing dead people,” Garofano alleged.

“Oh my God, you’re putting words in my mouth,” a stunned Garofano replied, asking Tiernan’s fellow officers to intervene, to no avail.

He then spent about 45 minutes at the University of Richmond Medical Center, where doctors assessed him and quickly released him, according to the Brooklyn Federal Court lawsuit against the city and Tiernan.

“It was very traumatic,” Garofano told the Post. “I was a big joke” for them.

Officers also searched the home of Garofano’s relatives, where he was staying for a month-long visit. The unexpected search frightened Garofano’s sister, who has severe multiple sclerosis, and a nearly 100-year-old mother.

The Civil Complaints Review Board substantiated Garofano’s complaint.

Garofano, who said he now takes Xanax and sleeping pills and is afraid of the police, is seeking unspecified damages. His attorney, Richard Cardinale, said it was unclear whether officers even took a report on the assault.

The NYPD declined to comment.