Jamaican awarded close to US$1m for false arrest by New York police

A Jamaican man who was falsely arrested for drunk driving by police in the United States has been awarded close to US$1 million or more than J$120 million by the city of New York.

The award comes nearly three years after 33-year-old Oliver Wiggins was arrested in East Flatbush, Brooklyn in April 2015 and charged with driving while intoxicated by a police officer.

The Jamaican man was charged as part of an attempt to cover up for another cop who drove his service vehicle through a stop sign and ploughed into Wiggins' car.

Wiggins was badly injured in the crash and required surgery to his wrist.

In addition, his driver's licence was suspended and he had to stand the cost of the repairs to his 2004 Nissan Maxima that his insurance company would not undertake because of the arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The New York Daily News newspaper reports that at the scene of the crash, a breathalyser test showed the Jamaican had no alcohol in his blood.

Additionally, Wiggins, who had insisted that he did not drink alcohol, volunteered to have his blood tested for alcohol and drugs while hospitalised.