Family of Bronx toddler who drowned in East River sues city and NYPD for million.

The family of Montrell Williams, a two-year-old boy who tragically drowned after his father allegedly threw him into the East River from a highway overpass, has initiated a legal claim against the city of New York and the New York Police Department (NYPD). The claim, amounting to million, asserts that the NYPD’s delayed response significantly hindered the search for Montrell after he was reported missing by his mother, 17-year-old Cierra Carroll. This announcement was made during a recent press conference held outside the 40th Precinct in the Bronx.

Reverend Kevin McCall, representing the family, stated that the NYPD’s negligence in the investigation compromised Montrell’s safety. The claim alleges that if the NYPD had promptly classified the situation as a missing child incident rather than a custody dispute, the necessary actions could have been taken to locate Montrell in a timely manner.

Cierra Carroll reported her son missing on May 11 after Arius Williams, the child’s father, failed to return Montrell following an approved visitation period. In her initial 911 call, Carroll expressed serious concerns for her son’s well-being, citing Williams’ history of erratic behavior and previous incidents of domestic violence.

According to court documents, the police reportedly misclassified the incident, leading to a lack of essential actions such as the issuance of an Amber Alert or the initiation of a missing child investigation. While the family continued to plead for police assistance in locating Montrell in the month that followed, their efforts were met with inaction.

Sadly, the search for Montrell concluded when his body was recovered from the East River on June 11. In the wake of this tragedy, Arius Williams has been charged with murder and is currently held without bail as he awaits trial.

The family’s claim not only seeks financial compensation but also aims to hold the NYPD accountable for what they describe as failures that contributed to the heart-wrenching outcome of this case. The circumstances surrounding Montrell’s disappearance and death have sparked discussions regarding the responsibilities of law enforcement in missing child situations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the impact of this tragedy continues to resonate within the community and beyond.

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