Community Activist Arrested in Front of Mamaroneck Home

A local community activist and former Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WESTCOP) board of directors' chair Luis Quiros, 67, was arrested outside his Rockland Avenue home by Village of Mamaroneck (VOM) police on Thursday, Feb. 14, for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors. 

According to VOM Police spokesperson Sandra DiRuzza, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in the area around 2 p.m. Police reports indicate that Quiros was charged with disorderly conduct after he screamed and cursed while standing in the road, causing a public annoyance and gathering of bystanders. The reports also indicate that Quiros was charged with resisting arrest after he pulled away from police despite being told several times that he was arrested; clenching his fist and swinging at an officer.  

Quiros told Patch he was relaxing in his car in front of his home when a police car pulled up behind him.

"The one-manned police car stayed behind me as he seemed to be calling headquarters  and using his front seat computer about my license number," he said.

Several minutes later, he said an officer approached his car to inquire why he was there, telling him he "looked suspicious." The officer then asked, "Why are you near a school?”  

"I said that 'looking suspicious is not against the law',” Quiros replied.

Later, after police asked Quiros to turn off his radio as well as where he lived, he was told to exit the vehicle, at which point officers held out handcuffs.  

"The other officer who had arrived second or third at the scene and was blocking the front of my car, then tried to force me and I refused, asking them to tell me why I was being arrested, what was so suspicious," he said, continuing, "There was no need to call in back up of two other patrol cars when he could have simply asked if I was okay or if I needed anything. I am not within view of the school unless I drive up to it. There is no justification other than race for the 'suspicious' comment and certainly no justification for calling in another officer before anything had 'happened' in our interaction."

Guisela Marroquin, director of the Community Action Program (CAP) Center in Mamaroneck, witnessed what happened next. Several neighbors were standing on the street.

"One cop grabbed one wrist, one cop grabbed the other wrist..they pushed his head down on my car and handcuffed him," she said. 

Marroquin said she informed officers that Quiros did, in fact, live in the home he was parked in front of. 

Both Quiros' nose and lip were bloodied afterwards.  Later, while officers were frisking him, Quiros said that he felt one of officers touch his genitals.  After questioning the officers about it, they replied, "No," and "You wish."  Quiros replied, "Bulls***," the only time he cursed, he said, despite the charge that indicated he said "This is bulls***," several times.

Quiros was held for several hours before being seen by a Village of Mamaroneck judge.  He was released on $200 bail and will appear in village court on Feb. 28.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article stated that Luis Quiros would appear in court on Feb. 21; it is actually Feb. 28.