ALBANY — Reports from Albany state the $2,000,000 lawsuit filed against the Albany Police Department has been settled.

In September of 2009, Richard Hayes, then 17, was held by police at the Dougherty County Jail on aggravated assault and gang participation charges.  Then, in 2011, he was released when all charges were dropped.

The lawsuit stated Hayes was held for 16 months unjustly, primarily due to Albany Police Officer Charles Flowers, who was named in the suit.  Hayes attorneys charged the department and Flowers knew Hayes was innocent, but held him anyway.  Hayes was suing for $2,000,000 in general and punitive damages.