Update: Louise Dunaway, former Mamaroneck Village Clerk and the mother of the Plaintiff, passed away July 16.
A long running neighborhood dispute has resulted in the arrest of a Mamaroneck resident, the son of a former court clerk, that has put the village court system in an uncomfortable bind.
Village police officers marched 55 year-old Michael Dunaway into Mamaroneck Village Court in handcuffs July 11th charging him with criminal contempt and harassment after he allegedly deposited urine near the home of a neighbor on Staub Court, the latest in a long running series of alleged incidents seemingly sparked by the victims’ Hispanic background.
Because Michael’s mother, Louise, is well known at the courthouse both Mamaroneck Village Justices, Daniel Gallagher and Christie Derrico, recused themselves from presiding over the case and a Village Justice from Irvington traveled to Mamaroneck to preside. Bail was set at $2500 and Dunaway was released under an order of protection to keep away from the victims.
Michael Dunaway’s next court date is scheduled for July 25th at Village Hall in Irvington, 85 Main Street.
theLoop was sent a copy of a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court against Dunaway, his wife and their adult son, who also live on Staub Court, by Jason and Ana DeLeon and Ariela and Walt Gehring, two families on Staub Court.
The claim alleges the defendants “have chanted “White Supremacy! White Supremacy!” outside the homes of Hispanic families on Staub Court, and subject Plaintiffs and their families, friends, tenants, and others who have come to visit them to a daily barrage of racial epithets and slurs, including: “Spic” and “Fucking nigger spic…,” and more, often occurring in front of one of the family’s five year old daughter. In the court action the families also claim incidents of dog feces and garbage thrown onto their property by the Dunaways.
“On a full-time, daily basis,” the suit alleges, “they viciously terrorize Plaintiffs with hateful racist and anti- immigrant speech, bullying and intimidation, and cause Plaintiffs to fear for their safety.”
Brian Cohen, attorney for the families says in filing the lawsuit “their courage will…inspire other victims of bigotry and discrimination in their neighborhoods to come forward and fight for the dignity and respect that they deserve.”
The Plaintiffs have requested a Jury Trial in U.S. District Court
And the mother was a court clerk in Mamaroneck for something like 30 years…good gracious. I sincerely hope there is video.
Hours of captured footage.
The mom just died. What a way to be there for your mom – getting arrested for being a racist moron. Apparently, the whole family was in on the harassment of neighbors. What a way to go out, being a miserable neighbor with a miserable 55 year old son giving you problems. Lesson: Keep your own house clean before judging others, especially when it’s based on race.
Such an awful lowlife person. If she was a catholic, I wonder how Jesus will look at her at the pearly gates assuming that is where she went… Treat others as you would like to be treated!! To do this to a family, especially with a 5 year old is just downright evil and wicked. Let’s stop with the hatred. I just read the NY Post article as well and it is so disgusting. Shame on them!
That woman had no love in her heart to be a catholic. She tormented and allowed her family to torture those poor people. I do not understand how the village or DA did nothing. I am sure they responded to calls and took reports but SHAME on the DA for not punishing them. Shame on the village for not helping these families more. If these people hate diversity they should have moved into the middle of no where. Up the mountains or something. They will now reap what they sow. I pray the families will find peace, relief and collect damages for everything they have been through. They deserve it.
Absolutely disgraceful! This kind of crap doesn’t only happen in Mississippi. This guy and his enablers need to be prosecuted to the fullest!
If this has been going on for years, why hasn’t this person been arrested and put away for a long period of time? Where are the police? Why was this allowed to continue for years as the article states
That is a question for the DA’s office.
What has happened to this village!
The people “running it” is what happened to it. This woman should have been held accountable the moment the village got wind of these events. Shame on the VOM and the DA!