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| Video of N.Y.P.D. Pulling Protester Into Unmarked Van Draws Criticism | Video of N.Y.P.D. Pulling Protester Into Unmarked Van Draws Criticism |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New York City police officers, several in plain clothes, swooped into a demonstration against aggressive police tactics on Tuesday and arrested a protester they appeared to have singled out, pulling her into an unmarked minivan before driving off. | New York City police officers, several in plain clothes, swooped into a demonstration against aggressive police tactics on Tuesday and arrested a protester they appeared to have singled out, pulling her into an unmarked minivan before driving off. |
| Videos of the encounter drew intense criticism on social media, including accusations that the New York police were adopting tactics similar to those used by federal agents during recent protests in Portland, Ore., where some people were pulled into unmarked vans. | Videos of the encounter drew intense criticism on social media, including accusations that the New York police were adopting tactics similar to those used by federal agents during recent protests in Portland, Ore., where some people were pulled into unmarked vans. |
| The Police Department said in a statement that the woman, Nikki Stone, 18, had been taken into custody by officers from the warrant squad in connection with “damaging police cameras during five separate criminal incidents in and around City Hall Park,” an apparent reference to incidents that occurred during the Occupy City Hall protests. | The Police Department said in a statement that the woman, Nikki Stone, 18, had been taken into custody by officers from the warrant squad in connection with “damaging police cameras during five separate criminal incidents in and around City Hall Park,” an apparent reference to incidents that occurred during the Occupy City Hall protests. |
| Ms. Stone was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti, the police said. She was released early Wednesday morning with a desk appearance ticket, which will require her to return to court at a later date. | Ms. Stone was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and making graffiti, the police said. She was released early Wednesday morning with a desk appearance ticket, which will require her to return to court at a later date. |
| The arrest took place at Second Avenue and East 25th Street in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan, according to the Police Department. | The arrest took place at Second Avenue and East 25th Street in the Kips Bay section of Manhattan, according to the Police Department. |
| The warrant squad typically uses unmarked vehicles to locate people wanted in connection with crimes, the police said. The police did not name the woman but said that charges against her were pending. | The warrant squad typically uses unmarked vehicles to locate people wanted in connection with crimes, the police said. The police did not name the woman but said that charges against her were pending. |
| While the police indicated that they were following standard procedure, the incident comes at a time when law enforcement practices are under intense scrutiny. Several city officials said on Tuesday that they were troubled by the videos of the woman’s arrest and publicly demanded a fuller explanation from the Police Department. | While the police indicated that they were following standard procedure, the incident comes at a time when law enforcement practices are under intense scrutiny. Several city officials said on Tuesday that they were troubled by the videos of the woman’s arrest and publicly demanded a fuller explanation from the Police Department. |
| On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested the arrest was justified but criticized its execution, which he called “troubling” because of its similarities to the events in Portland. | |
| “It was the wrong time and the wrong place to effectuate that arrest,” Mr. de Blasio said at a news briefing. | “It was the wrong time and the wrong place to effectuate that arrest,” Mr. de Blasio said at a news briefing. |
| The mayor defended the use of an unmarked vehicle, noting that it was standard procedure for the warrant squad. But he said that the Police Department’s leadership should have coordinated better given ongoing tension over policing, and that he would speak with the city’s police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, about the issue. | The mayor defended the use of an unmarked vehicle, noting that it was standard procedure for the warrant squad. But he said that the Police Department’s leadership should have coordinated better given ongoing tension over policing, and that he would speak with the city’s police commissioner, Dermot F. Shea, about the issue. |
| “Given this atmosphere that we’re dealing with in our country and the real concerns people have, it just didn’t make sense,” Mr. de Blasio said. | “Given this atmosphere that we’re dealing with in our country and the real concerns people have, it just didn’t make sense,” Mr. de Blasio said. |
| After the mayor’s comments, Rodney Harrison, the Police Department’s chief of detectives, shared video on Twitter that appeared to show Ms. Stone vandalizing cameras. | After the mayor’s comments, Rodney Harrison, the Police Department’s chief of detectives, shared video on Twitter that appeared to show Ms. Stone vandalizing cameras. |
| “The N.Y.P.D. welcomes peaceful protests,” Chief Harrison wrote. “However, damage to N.Y.P.D. technology that helps keep this city safe will never be tolerated.” | “The N.Y.P.D. welcomes peaceful protests,” Chief Harrison wrote. “However, damage to N.Y.P.D. technology that helps keep this city safe will never be tolerated.” |
| Later on Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo criticized the arrest and said the video was “disturbing.” | |
| “I’m surprised that, especially at this time, the N.Y.P.D. would take such an obnoxious action,” Mr. Cuomo said during a news briefing. “It was wholly insensitive to everything that has gone on.” | |
| On Tuesday, Carlina Rivera, the city councilwoman who represents the district where the arrest occurred, called the arrest a “massive overstep” and said she was exploring legislation over the use of unmarked vans and plainclothes officers. | On Tuesday, Carlina Rivera, the city councilwoman who represents the district where the arrest occurred, called the arrest a “massive overstep” and said she was exploring legislation over the use of unmarked vans and plainclothes officers. |
| Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker, also called the encounter “unacceptable.” Scott M. Stringer, the New York City comptroller, also said he was “deeply concerned.” | Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker, also called the encounter “unacceptable.” Scott M. Stringer, the New York City comptroller, also said he was “deeply concerned.” |
| Councilman Brad Lander of Brooklyn said that with the “anxiety about what’s happening in Portland, the N.Y.P.D. deploying unmarked vans with plainclothes cops to make street arrests of protesters feels more like provocation than public safety.” | Councilman Brad Lander of Brooklyn said that with the “anxiety about what’s happening in Portland, the N.Y.P.D. deploying unmarked vans with plainclothes cops to make street arrests of protesters feels more like provocation than public safety.” |
| The arrest on Tuesday was the latest flash point in a nationwide conversation about aggressive police tactics. For weeks since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, people have staged protests across the city against police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system. | The arrest on Tuesday was the latest flash point in a nationwide conversation about aggressive police tactics. For weeks since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, people have staged protests across the city against police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system. |
| The protest on Tuesday at which the woman was arrested was held in response to the clearing of the Occupy City Hall encampment last week, organizers said. | The protest on Tuesday at which the woman was arrested was held in response to the clearing of the Occupy City Hall encampment last week, organizers said. |
| The Occupy City Hall demonstration itself, which began on June 23 when about 100 people set up camp on a small patch of grass to the east of City Hall, was intended to bring pressure on the City Council to cut the Police Department’s funding. | The Occupy City Hall demonstration itself, which began on June 23 when about 100 people set up camp on a small patch of grass to the east of City Hall, was intended to bring pressure on the City Council to cut the Police Department’s funding. |
| Most people at the demonstration went home within days after the Council ultimately decided to shift nearly $1 billion away from the police, though the move fell short of many of the protesters’ expectations. Homeless people then flocked to the site for its free meals and open-air camping before the encampment was cleared last week. | Most people at the demonstration went home within days after the Council ultimately decided to shift nearly $1 billion away from the police, though the move fell short of many of the protesters’ expectations. Homeless people then flocked to the site for its free meals and open-air camping before the encampment was cleared last week. |
| The tactics used by federal agents in Portland have spurred renewed protests across the country. Some agents, dressed in camouflage and tactical gear, sprayed tear gas on protesters and pulled others into unmarked vans. | The tactics used by federal agents in Portland have spurred renewed protests across the country. Some agents, dressed in camouflage and tactical gear, sprayed tear gas on protesters and pulled others into unmarked vans. |
| Michael Gold and Juliana Kim contributed reporting. | Michael Gold and Juliana Kim contributed reporting. |