The issue of excessive force never strays far from the public’s consciousness, especially in areas like Chicago, where a task force recently exposed law enforcement for its questionable practices. In New York City, the internet has helped expose a recent incident where plainclothes officers cuffed and arrested a postal worker after nearly striking his vehicle. The lieutenant in charge of the incident was later placed on desk duty pending an investigation, but now another video shows similar behavior by another NYPD officer.
In the above clip (which was captured by a passenger in a moving vehicle), the officer in question pushes a woman up against a car and places her in a choke hold. According to the New York Post, the event happened in Manhattan’s Little Italy with the source quoted as saying, “He’s got her good around the throat … He’s forcing her backwards.” Everything happens in full view of bystanders, but the time and date of the incident remain a mystery.
The New York Daily News spoke with an NYPD representative, who believes the video is at least two years old, because the officer in question was then a sergeant, but has moved up to lieutenant status. Choke holds have been banned by the department since 1993, and Internal Affairs will dig into this matter for further review.
(Via New York Post & New York Daily News)