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Charges Recommended Against 3 Officers Involved in Violent N.Y. Arrest Charges Recommended Against 3 Officers Involved in Violent N.Y. Arrest
(32 minutes later)
Investigators with the New York Police Department have recommended misconduct charges against three police officers, including one who sat and knelt on the neck and upper torso of a man he was arresting, a maneuver similar to the one that led to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, two people familiar with the matter said. Investigators with the New York Police Department have recommended misconduct charges against three police officers, including one who sat and knelt on the neck and upper torso of a man he was arresting, a maneuver similar to the one used in the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, two people familiar with the matter said.
It is unclear what charges the first officer, Francisco X. Garcia, and two others will face in connection with the investigation of the May 2 incident, according to two people told of its outcome, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal police department inquiry. It is unclear what charges the first officer, Francisco X. Garcia, and two others could face in connection with the investigation of the May 2 incident, according to two people told of its outcome, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss an internal police department inquiry.
The departmental charges came as the death of Mr. Floyd and others at the hands of the police spurred nationwide demonstrations, including in New York City, where 72 people were arrested during a protest on Thursday.The man arrested, Donni Wright, had objected to the arrest of two other people on the Lower East Side, and Officer Garcia beat him to the ground and sat on top of him, according to a bystander’s video of the arrest. The departmental charges come as the death of Mr. Floyd and others at the hands of the police have spurred nationwide demonstrations, including in New York City, where 72 people were arrested during a protest on Thursday night.
Mr. Wright filed a notice of claim on Friday announcing his intention to file a $50-million lawsuit against the police. His lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, also called on the Manhattan district attorney to bring criminal charges. The Police Department confirmed in a statement on Friday afternoon that “several members of the department” will face disciplinary charges in connection with the incident, which occurred in the East Village, and that the charges will be filed “as early as next week.”
“New York State law prescribes the process for these disciplinary proceedings,” the statement read. “The department will adhere to the law, ensure due process for all involved and go wherever the facts take us.”
The police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, joined dozens of police commanders across the country on Wednesday in condemning what occurred in Minneapolis. In a message on Twitter, he described the incident as “deeply disturbing” and “wrong,” adding: “This is not acceptable anywhere.”
The Minneapolis officer who knelt on Mr. Floyd’s neck was fired, and on Friday, after rioters burned a police precinct, he was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
In New York, Officer Garcia has been placed on desk duty. The man he arrested on May 2 was a bystander who had objected to the arrest of two other people a few minutes earlier.
The incident started when Officer Garcia and his partners approached two people standing in front of a deli, at the corner of Avenue D and 9th Street, in what the police described as a social-distancing stop that escalated to an arrest on marijuana and weapons charges.
As his partners took a man and a woman into custody, Officer Garcia approached some bystanders, among them Donni Wright. The officer pointed his Taser and told them to get back. One of the bystanders recorded a video of the officer slapping and punching Mr. Wright, who fell to the ground. Officer Garcia then sat on Mr. Wright as another officer put him in handcuffs.
On Friday, Mr. Wright filed a notice of claim announcing his intention to file a $50 million lawsuit against the police. His lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, also called on the Manhattan district attorney to bring criminal charges.
“The video, pictures of the truth, clearly call for a criminal investigation of this matter,” he said. “The evidence is there.”“The video, pictures of the truth, clearly call for a criminal investigation of this matter,” he said. “The evidence is there.”