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Fourth notice of claim filed against Village of Frankfort for Police Chief's alleged actions

By By PAT BAILEY

Story Created: Mar 31, 2010 at 3:54 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 31, 2010 at 6:14 PM EDT

FRANKFORT, N.Y. (WKTV) - Frankfort Police Officer Samuel Ameduri III has filed a notice of claim against the Village of Frankfort alleging Police Chief Steven Conley harassed and assaulted him.

The notice of claim was filed Friday, according to Ameduri's attorney Ricardo Mauro.

In the claim, Ameduri alleges Conley asked him to change his sworn testimony regarding the court case of Harold Griffin - a man who claimed Conley held him back while Frankfort Mayor Frank Morocco beat him up and assaulted him. The notice of claim also states that Chief Conley asked Ameduri to change his testimony on further issues regarding the an incident with Chief Conley and Herkimer County Coroner Daniel Enea, where Enea said Conley threatened him and got in the way of a crime scene investigation.

According to the claim, when Ameduri refused to change his testimony, he was grabbed by the throat and thrown against the trunk of his car by Conley.

Ameduri is currently on medical leave from the Village Police Department, Mayor Frank Morocco said.

Both Griffin and Enea filed notice of claims against the Village of Frankfort citing physical harm done to them by Conley. The incident that occurred on election night 2008 between Conley and Griffin went to trial - a trial where Griffin was found not-guilty.

Griffin's attorney Mark Wolber said a civil suit is currently in Federal Court regarding that election night incident where Conley was alleged to have been in a physical altercation with Griffin.

Wolber also represents Dan Enea, who filed his notice of claim against the village earlier this month. Enea's claim said he was grabbed by Conley after the two exchanged words over an unattended death Enea was called to. Enea claimed one Frankfort police officer cleared the scene of the death before he arrived, and after talking to that officer about that, Conley grabbed Enea, forcing him to lock himself in the car and call 911.

According to Wolber, the Village of Frankfort has 30 days to respond to a notice of claim and seek a hearing where those who file the notice give sworn testimony.

Village Mayor Frank Moracco referred all questions to the Village Attorney John Petrone. Petrone said he had no comment while the case was in litigation.

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