BROOKLYN, Ohio (WOIO) — A Maple Heights man has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Brooklyn Police Department, the police chief and five officers, claiming the department ignored early warning signs about a sergeant who was later fired for punching a handcuffed woman.
Woman plans lawsuit, breaks silence after being repeatedly punched in face by Brooklyn cop.(Brooklyn Police Department)
It’s a story 19 Investigates has been following since May 2025.
“After seeing your story, I realized that this was an excessive force case,” said attorney Anthony Jordan.
Juan Wyckoff filed the lawsuit against the department and former Sergeant Paul Stein on April 29.
The suit alleges Stein assaulted Wyckoff on April 30 of last year.
According to the lawsuit — Stein, who was off-duty — hit Wyckoff’s Kia on I-90 in Westlake and then fled at more than 100 miles an hour in his Chevy Silverado.
“He literally tried to run me off the highway,” Wyckoff said.
Allegations of reckless driving and alcohol use
Wyckoff said he followed Stein — using his cellphone to record him driving recklessly through residential streets, running red lights and weaving in and out of traffic.
Stein eventually led Wyckoff to the Brooklyn Police Department where he reported what occurred.
“A cop hit my car and tried to run!” Wyckoff can be seen telling officers on bodycam video.
The lawsuit alleges Stein was driving recklessly and was under the influence.
Bodycam footage shows Wyckoff telling officers he smelled alcohol on Stein’s breath.
“Don’t you all suppose to drug test people after they get into an accident? He needs to get drug tested and alcohol and all that. I swear I smell some liquor on his breath,” Wyckoff said.
There is no record to show Stein was ever tested.
Surveillance cameras were rolling when Wyckoff followed Stein to the employee entrance.
Video shows Stein shoving and kicking the man as Wyckoff’s sandal gets stuck under the door.
The lawsuit claims that is assault and battery under Ohio law.
The chief investigated and gave Stein a written reprimand for traffic violations — but cleared him of assault.
The Westlake Police Department cited Stein for improper lane change but did not charge him with hit-and-run.
“Is that enough?” reporter Mike Mason asked.
“No, that’s not enough,” Wyckoff said.
Attorneys question department’s response
Wyckoff is represented by three attorneys: Keith Hansbrough, Clarissa Smith and Anthony Jordan.
“Unfortunately, the management, or the chain of command and the Brooklyn police, seem to be the only people in the country that don’t see this as police brutality,” Hansbrough said.
“If what had been done with Wyckoff was done appropriately, then we wouldn’t have had the situation with the second person,” Smith said.
Five months after the hit-and-run, the department fired Stein for punching a handcuffed woman in the face after she spit at him.
Brooklyn police officer charged with assault after punching handcuffed woman.(Brooklyn Police Department)
It happened last September after she was arrested on an outstanding warrant for aggravated menacing.
Stein was then charged with misdemeanor assault — he has pleaded not guilty and the case is ongoing.
“I think if anybody else had done what he did, they would be charged with a felony,” Smith said.
Personnel file shows prior concerns
19 Investigates obtained a copy of Stein’s personnel file from the Brooklyn Police Department.
In a 2023 performance review, his lieutenant said he needed to work on two things: de-escalating situations and reducing the number of citizen complaints.
Paul Stein’s 2023 Performance Review.(Brooklyn Police Department)
In March, 19 Investigates requested copies of the incidents referenced in Stein’s performance review (above) but still has not received them.
“And we can’t get those records from the city of Brooklyn,” Hansbrough said.
The lawsuit alleges the police department has shown a custom and widespread practice of encouraging or tolerating the use of excessive force.
“I also think there should be an investigation launched into how the police department in Brooklyn functions,” Hansbrough said.
The suit claims Stein and four other officers illegally intimidated Wyckoff when he tried to report the incident.
Those officers include Cindy Eschweiler, Morley Brenenstuhl, Brianna Molnar and Reynaldo Monroy.
Police Chief Scott Mielke is also named as a defendant.
Mielke’s accused of violating Wyckoff’s civil rights when he told him he would have pulled a gun on him.
“I can tell you how I would have handled this, I would have pulled my gun out,” Mielke can be heard telling Wyckoff on bodycam footage.
On April 29 — two days after the lawsuit was filed — Chief Mielke announced his retirement.
His career at the Brooklyn Police Department lasted 31 years.
Wyckoff’s lawsuit also accuses officers of obstruction of justice, conspiracy and tampering with evidence.
“I’m just kind of confused why nothing was taken seriously about what he did,” Wyckoff said.
Stein, his attorney and the Brooklyn Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.
The woman from the September incident plans to file a lawsuit this summer.
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