Driver Arrested for Honking at Cop at Green Light Sues Police

Newsweek

4 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A driver is suing police, claiming he was wrongly arrested after giving "a brief toot on his vehicle horn" when an officer's vehicle did not move after a traffic light turned green.
Matthew N. Edwards, a resident of Troy, New York, said his arrest in July 2024 was retaliatory and unlawful, and led to several violations of his constitutional rights. The civil rights suit against Troy Police Department (TPD), its officer Taylor Gamache and the city of Troy was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York earlier this month.
Police bodycam footage obtained by Newsweek, above, and first published by local station WNYT shows the moment of the arrest.
Attorney Arthur R. Frost, representing Edwards, told Newsweek his client, a welder, required two surgeries on his hand, leaving him out of work for about a year.
Newsweek contacted the TPD and Mayor Carmella Mantello for comment. The mayor's office responded, stating: "We have no comment at this time due to the ongoing litigation surrounding this matter."
Why It Matters
The lawsuit alleges that this incident isn't a one-time event, but part of a larger, ongoing problem within the TPD. It suggests similar things have happened before, and that the department may have a culture that allows such behavior. It also raises concerns that officers might not be properly trained or supervised.
Troy resident Matthew N. Edwards being arrested by police on July 19, 2024
Troy resident Matthew N. Edwards being arrested by police on July 19, 2024
Troy Police Department/Arthur R. Frost
What To Know
Edwards was driving home from work when he encountered a Troy Police vehicle idling at a green light at the intersection of Third and Madison Streets in South Troy at about 5 p.m. on July 19, 2024, said Frost, of attorneys Frost & Kavanaugh.
The lawsuit says the vehicle, driven by Gamache, had failed to proceed even though the light had turned green. After a brief pause, Edwards says he gave a light horn tap to alert the officer. Gamache then made an unsignaled left turn—seemingly reacting to Edwards's active left turn signal, according to the lawsuit.
To avoid conflict, Edwards had canceled his signal and continued straight, choosing a different route home, said his attorney. He added that upon reaching his residence, Edwards temporarily parked his vehicle about 12 inches from the curb, got out and began moving his garbage bins away from the sidewalk into an alleyway in order to fully park. Moments later, Gamache, whom the lawsuit says had followed Edwards, arrived in his marked patrol car with his body camera recording.
The lawsuit then states: "[Gamache] initiated a purportedly legal traffic stop of [Edwards] for allegedly violating NY Vehicle and Traffic Law—including unlawfully using his vehicle horn to alert Gamache that the traffic signal had turned green, and that Edwards was parked more than 12" from the curb when he temporarily stopped his vehicle while retrieving his garbage cans.
On the bodycam footage, Edwards can be heard saying repeatedly he has committed no crime and asking Gamache: "Can you please call your superior?"
Assisted by additional Troy Police officers and a Rensselaer County Sheriff's Deputy, Gamache detained Edwards, ultimately wrestling him to the ground and placing him under arrest, while Edwards says several times: "You're on my pelvis, bro, you're on my pelvis... You're violating my rights."
Edwards' federal lawsuit was filed with a jury demand on July 3, 2025, alleging that the arrest was retaliatory and unlawful, triggered by the brief horn tap, and resulted in multiple constitutional violations. It adds that all the charges against Edwards were later dismissed.
Edwards is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, claiming multiple constitutional violations including false arrest, excessive force, and malicious prosecution. His lawsuit also includes claims against the TPD and the city of Troy, arguing that both failed to adequately train or supervise officers and did not maintain proper policies regarding use of force and citizen interaction.
In addition to monetary damages, the complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief aimed at preventing similar incidents.
Edwards asserts that he suffered physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial losses due to the arrest, raising broader concerns about police conduct and accountability in Troy.
On February 22, 2023, Troy police officer Justin Byrnes fatally struck 30-year-old pizza driver Sabeeh Alalkawi at a junction while speeding through a red light at 88 mph en route to a call. Alalkawi had a green light and was traveling at 28 mph. Though Byrnes had emergency lights on, investigators found he entered the intersection recklessly. No charges were filed, but his license was suspended and department policies were revised.
Alalkawi's family received a $5.77 million settlement from the city of Troy in 2024.
In October 2023, Troy police arrested Woody Smith, who later died after experiencing medical distress. Bodycam footage showed him saying "I can't breathe," before officers removed his handcuffs and called for help. The state attorney general found no evidence police caused his death, citing drug use, health issues, and exertion as contributing factors.
In a joint statement at the time, Mantello and Troy Police Chief Dan DeWolf expressed the department's condolences and emphasized that the department was committed to maintaining public trust through accountability and openness.
What People Are Saying
Arthur Frost wrote in his legal brief: "The defendant, [Officer] Gamache, undertook his actions with evil motive or intent and with reckless or callous indifference." He told Newsweek: "Following his arrest, Edwards needed two surgeries on his right (dominant) hand and he has not regained full function. He is a welder by trade and has been finding it very difficult to do his job."
The office of Mayor Mantello told Newsweek: "We have no comment at this time due to the ongoing litigation surrounding this matter."
What Happens Next
The litigation remains in its early stages, with the summons issued to all defendants on July 3, 2025. Both parties are now required to submit a plan for managing the case as it goes forward and exchanging information by September 24, 2025.
The case management order—essentially a roadmap for the case telling the parties and their lawyers what needs to be done and by when—has been set for October 1, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart in Albany.