Two former Miramar police officers who framed a mentally challenged 15-year-old boy for the rape and murder of a woman must pay him $7 million for the nearly 26 years he spent in prison, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Anthony Caravella, now 46, of Pembroke Pines, was freed from prison in September 2009 after DNA testing exonerated him of the rape and murder of Ada *** Jankowski, 58. His conviction was re-examined after a series of Sun Sentinel stories on the 1983 case.

Caravella, who works doing clean-up at his uncle's construction sites, said he was happy and relieved —though he could still face a long, difficult path to try to collect the money.

BELLINGHAM - The town's insurance paid out more than $50,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought against the police department last April.

Holly Graham, 29, of Bellingham, filed the suit on April 24, accusing officers David Ayotte and John Melanson of violating her civil rights by illegally entering her apartment, falsely arresting her and using excessive force. A video of her arrest posted on YouTube sparked the complaint.

Graham’s attorney, Howard Friedman of Boston, made the details of the settlement available to the Daily News in an email this week. U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf referred the case to mediation on Aug. 14. And after a Sept. 15 mediation session, the parties settled out of court.

MIIA, the town's insurance provider, covered the $55,000 settlement.

Per the agreement, Ayotte, Bellingham Police Chief Gerard Daigle and Melanson were required to travel to the John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston on Nov. 17 to watch a video that Graham had recorded for them.

Friedman Wednesday called the clause “unusual,” saying Graham made the video for the officers because they were not present in court during mediation.

In the recording for the officers, Friedman said, “Ms. Graham described how she felt when she was arrested. She said she hoped officers Ayotte and Melanson felt uncomfortable. She told them the public saw on the video the way they behaved.”

A former Ann Arbor police officer who resigned over the summer amid allegations that he offered young women leniency in exchange for sex is now being charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor.

Jason Jackson Kitts, 38 of Westland, was arraigned on three counts of misconduct in office and one misdemeanor count of unauthorized access of the Law Enforcement Information Network, according to a release from the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's Office.

"The investigation was the result of citizen complaints," said Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Steve Hiller.

The Ann Arbor News obtained those citizen complaints last month via a Freedom of Information Act request.

On June 12, 2014, a citizen filed a complaint via email about a traffic stop that occurred on Plymouth Road June 2. In the complaint, the woman said Kitts made "(i)nappropriate remarks made during a traffic stop (that) were interpreted to be sexual in nature," though the complaint did not elaborate further.

In another complaint, Kitts allegedly pulled over a young woman on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor June 16 and hinted that he'd get the ticket dismissed if she had sex with him, according to the complaint.

A second woman was issued a speeding ticket by Kitts and filed a complaint about the way he behaved in the hallway of downtown Ann Arbor's 15th District Court when she came to take care of it.

Kitts allegedly told the woman that he could get the ticket dismissed, but wanted to know "what was in it for him," according to the report.

In her complaint, the woman said Kitts told her, "I want to see how well you can convince me that I should do this."

Michigan State Police investigated the complaints with the full cooperation of the Ann Arbor Police Department, the release says.

On November 2, 2014, I was walking home from buying some items at the local grocery store. I was approached by Officer Chad Boyett a block and a half away from my home, which I own. Officer Boyett passed me and did a U-turn at the intersection in front of me and then pulled up beside me. I continued walking as he asked me where my auto was. I told him it didn’t matter because I was walking and that I didn’t have time for this, so I was going home.

He got out of his auto and ran around to me, approximately 3 feet from his auto, forcefully gripped my arm and drug me to the front of his auto. He kept asking where my auto was and stated he knew I had been driving without a license. I informed him he can’t do this and to call the Chief of Police, Bobby Evans. He said he didn’t have to call him and that he was writing me citations for driving without a license and expired registration.

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The judge only told me I was being charged with driving without a license and expired registration and that my bond was $500 on each charge. After a bondsman got me out and took me back to Hamlin, I discussed things with my husband and walked to the police department for court, which I was told I had up to 10 days to see the judge. I told the judge I was walking and not guilty and agreed that he and the Chief of Police could review the audio and video and agreed that if I wasn’t driving the charges would be dropped and if I was I would pay the fines.

I filed a formal complaint on Nov. 4th and gave them ample time before requesting the status of my complaint. I requested to discuss it with the Chief of Police and denied by stating they sent me a letter and refuse to discuss it until I receive the letter. The letter only discussed the humiliation and excessive force stating they stand by the officer and that he did nothing wrong. I called a meeting with Chief Evans where he stated he knew I was NOT driving and I submitted my request for audio and video. The officer NEVER turned on his lights, so I knew there was no video.

The Judge informed me a few days later at my request for status again that he refused to view the “video” now. I don’t understand that, but I was given a day to appear at a “court” between me and the city attorney, ex crooked mayor, alone. When I entered he asked if I knew what the fines were for my charges. I stated I didn’t care because I’m not paying them. I placed in front of him the paper charging me with driving without a license and placed my license on it then I placed the other paper charging me with expired registration with the title, bill of sale dated Dec. 3, 2014 for the auto he stated I was in and proof of inspection which would have dismissed the charges but I said one thing he didn’t like……I have an attorney…..so nothing was dismissed. My attorney is a civil rights lawyer from Houston and is currently investigating my case. I do worry they can get to him. HELP ME GET JUSTICE

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal jury has convicted a veteran San Francisco police officer of violating a tenant's civil rights by illegally entering her hotel room.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports jurors on Thursday found Officer Ashad Razzak guilty of violating the tenant's rights, conspiracy, submitting a false report and signing a false pay slip for an informant.

A police report signed by Razzak said he led a team of officers to a room at the Henry Hotel to search for heroin with the occupant's consent, eliminating the need for a search warrant.

But a video showed the officers entering without knocking after one of them opened the door with a key. The resident testified she was coerced into signing a consent form after the search in December 2010.

Sentencing is scheduled April 28.

A Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy is under investigation after a man caught the officer parking her patrol car in a disabled parking space as she made a snack run into a North Highlands convenience store.

The deputy, who was not immediately identified, has worked with the Sheriff’s Department for 27 years, 15 as a sworn officer. Violating the department’s codes of conduct – and the law – could get her fired, Undersheriff James Lewis said Wednesday.

Lewis said he was “completely disappointed” when he saw the video, taken with a cellphone by a concerned citizen who watched as the deputy pulled into a disabled parking space, got out of her cruiser and walked into the store to buy snacks. She didn’t look like she was on a call, the man told Fox40. So, he started recording.

The video, which Fox40 brought to the attention of the Sheriff’s Department this week, focuses on a patrol car parked in a disabled space outside the Circle K on Hemlock Street near Auburn Boulevard. The officer can be seen smiling as she gets back behind the wheel, a plastic bag slung over her arm and a drink container in her hand.

“You always park in handicap when you’re not on a call?” the man asked.

“We’re allowed to get breaks,” the deputy said.

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