Manhattan DA announces indictment against NYPD officer seen punching ‘erratic’ homeless man on viral video
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg introduced Wednesday {that a} New York City Police Department officer has been indicted on a misdemeanor assault cost after allegedly being caught on video punching a homeless man who prosecutors say had been “acting erratically” whereas inserting him beneath arrest.
NYPD Officer Juan Perez, 42, is accused of punching Borim Husenaj within the face six occasions throughout an encounter in Greenwich Village in November 2021. Bragg mentioned the sufferer sustained a damaged nostril, had bruising across the eyes, and he was knocked unconscious.
Perez, who works within the sixth Precinct, is charged with one count of assault within the third diploma, a Class A misdemeanor.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg introduced that NYPD Officer Juan Perez was indicted on a misdemeanor assault cost for punching an erratic homeless man. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“As we allege, the defendant’s assault caused the victim to suffer substantial pain,” Bragg mentioned in a press release. “Police officers are often put in challenging situations, but they must use their training appropriately and treat the residents of New York City with respect.”
On Nov. 10, 2021, Perez and his accomplice responded to a radio transmission about a person appearing erratically on the nook of Bleecker and Sullivan streets, in accordance with courtroom paperwork and statements made on the document. As they have been driving to reply to the unique incident, they encountered Husenaj on close by MacDougal Street, and he had “been acting erratically and was holding a bottle of alcohol,” prosecutors mentioned. Perez advised the sufferer to take a seat on a chair on the sidewalk and took the bottle from his hand.
Husenaj continued speaking to Perez and repeatedly sought to face up, in accordance with Bragg’s workplace. Perez finally known as for an ambulance as a result of he believed that the sufferer was intoxicated. Eventually, after a continued verbal backwards and forwards, Perez allegedly pushed Husenaj against the wall and sought to handcuff him.
Both Perez and Husenaj finally fell to the bottom and started to wrestle with one another. Perez’s accomplice returned from the automobile and helped subdue the sufferer.
NYPD officers from the Special Response Group unit wait contained in the Broadway-Lafayette subway station forward of a “Justice for Jordan Neely” vigil and protest on May 8, 2023, in New York City. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
“Perez then proceeded to rapidly punch the victim six times in the face, who was lying on the ground defenseless,” in accordance with Bragg’s workplace. “He was brought to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken nose and significant swelling.”
Bystander video of the encounter then circulated on-line. Court paperwork, cited by N.Y. Daily News, reportedly mentioned physique digicam footage of the incident exhibits that Husenaj was mentally unstable and was rambling about God and his perception that he was being focused by terrorists. While late testing confirmed Husenaj was intoxicated on the time, “all objective evidence makes clear that he was also in the throes of a serious psychiatric crisis,” courtroom paperwork say.
Screenshot from bystander video displaying Jordan Neely being held in a chokehold on the New York City subway. (Luces de Nueva York/Juan Alberto Vazquez by way of Storyful)
Perez has been suspended with out pay, the New York Post reported. Public data present Perez, who joined the NYPD in 2006, was transferred to the Fleet Services Division on May 18.
City data present Perez, an officer since 2006, has had 9 complaints against him, together with allegations involving bodily drive, however none have been substantiated. Records additionally present he was disciplined for a 2014 off-duty threatening incident.
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The announcement comes as New York City continues to be reeling from the subway choke maintain dying of Jordan Neely and subsequent second diploma manslaughter fees introduced against Marine veteran Daniel Penny. Neely was homeless and had greater than 40 prior arrests, and prosecutors mentioned he had been threatening passengers aboard the subway practice on May 1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.