Man suing city, police for false accusation of rape

    After being falsely accused of rape and beaten by an angry mob, Michael Zenquis is suing the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia, alleging both encouraged vigilante justice.

    Zenquis was attacked in June 2009 in connection with the rape of an 11-year-old girl in Kensington, as the Daily News recalls. Beaten with bats, kicked and punched, Zenquis was hospitalized when angry residents thought he was the rapist.

    The suit alleges police circulated a photo of Zenquis and the city and police encouraged “street justice” in his capture. The police insist the only photo ever circulated was of Jose Carrasquillo, who was arrested and charged.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal