On behalf of The Orlow Firm posted in Police Misconduct on Thursday, May 10, 2012
New station NY1 recently reported on a video the station exclusively obtained showing what appears to be misconduct by the NYPD. The video shows the arrest of a 19-year-old Bronx teen earlier this year. After being put in rear handcuffs, the teen is punched by one officer, and kicked by another officer after the teen had already fallen to the ground.
Advocates are calling for charges to be brought against the officers involved in the Bronx police misconduct. A former federal prosecutor explained that nothing on the tape seems to justify the teen being punched so hard that he fell to the ground. He thought the kick by another officer seemed completely gratuitous.
The Executive Director for the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is also advocating for charges to be brought against the officers, "This is a very long video that demonstrates inescapably the NYPD from the 42nd precinct engaging in unlawful behavior. Massive civil rights violation. Punching someone who is under arrest. Searching somebody without any cause. Macing somebody for capturing police activity on video."
The teen was charged with carrying drugs, resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. The charges were eventually dropped by the Bronx DA who said he did not have enough proof.
The Bronx DA also says the officers will not be charged because the teen is refusing to cooperate with the investigation. The executive director of the NYCLU argues that the DA's office has the ability and duty to investigate such conduct even without the teen's cooperation.
Photograph the Police. Fairfax County Police means Police brutality