A former New York ice cream shop owner was ordered to pay $4,500 for making false claims against Black Lives Matter demonstrators, The Hill reports.

According to the ruling, David Elmendorf, the former owner of Bumpy’s Polar Freeze in Schenectady, New York, is required to pay protesters $500 each, totaling $4,500.

Elmendorf is said to have claimed there were 20 "armed protestors" threatening to open fire on him. Five police cars came and no arrests were made.

Attorney General Letitia James
filed a lawsuit against Elmendorf in March, which marked the state's first claim over an allegedly false, race-based police report.

The legal complaint stated that Elmendorf was in violation of state law by making “multiple armed threats, including death threats using derogatory racist language, against peaceful Black protestors and made false reports to the police regarding those protestors.”

“Those who make racist and violent threats will be held accountable by my office with the full weight of the law,” James said. “We must continue to remain vigilant against hate and bias in our communities, and I encourage anyone with information about a potential hate crime to contact my office.”

In addition to the payments he’s ordered to make, Elmendorf has been banned from making threats against anyone based on their race and is barred from wielding a deadly weapon within 1,000 feet of a peaceful protest.

James Mermigis, Elmendorf’s attorney, called the accusations “categorically false” and claimed that his client’s name was being smeared.

Mermigis also stated that no defense was made in court.

In an official statement released by her office on Wednesday, James said police calls based on false racial claims will be held accountable under the law.

“There is zero tolerance for harassment, intimidation, or violence of any kind against anyone in New York,” she said in a press release. “As this nation continues to be plagued by division and hate, this decision sends a critical and clear message that those who perpetuate racism and discrimination, including filing false, race-based police reports, will be held to the fullest extent of the law."

“This is an important step forward, but our work isn’t over — we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every New Yorker feels safe and protected,” James added.

New York Attorney General Letitia James

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