Homeless Man, Victim Of “Brutal Attack” By NYC Cop, Charged With Assault
SophieL
A New York City police officer punched and dragged a homeless man off a subway train, recorded on a body cam video in May.
- According to The City, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is charging the homeless man with felony assault for allegedly slapping the hand of the officer that was attempting to cuff him.
- The City reports: “It was around 12:30 a.m. on May 25, according to a criminal complaint, when police approached Joseph because, Officer Shimul Saha said, he was ‘occupying more than one seat’ on the near-empty No. 6 train. Joseph left the car and moved to the next one.”
- Joseph protested that not wanting to leave the train is not sufficient cause for arrest. In response, Officer Adonis Long reached to grab Joseph, who batted the cop’s hand away. Long punched Joseph in the face twice, then dragged him off the train.
- The video shows Joseph subsequently crying and begging Long to stop, but Long takes out his pepper spray instead. “I’m having a panic attack, please,” Joseph cried, restrained on the ground. He called for his brother who was not there.
Prosecutors ascribe felony charges to Joseph’s actions, yielding a prison sentence of seven years.
- Officer Long’s criminal complaint stated that he “sustained swelling and substantial pain to the knuckles of his right hand and was transported to the hospital.”
- The Legal Aid Society represents Joseph, calling for the charges to be dropped and involved officers to be fired in the interest of justice. “The brutal attack on Joseph by these officers is both unconscionable and completely indefensible,” said attorney Edda Ness.
