Questions Surround Cop Sodomy Accusation, Response

The 24-year-old who says five police officers sodomized him with a police walkie-talkie last week spoke to the Daily News from his hospital bed. Michael Mineo, who was re-hospitalized, said, "The cops did this to me... I'm in so much pain... I've got pus coming out of me, man. I need help!" And the NY Post has photographs of Mineo being visited by the Reverend Al Sharpton, who called for an investigation into the matter and compared it to the Abner Louima incident.

Mineo says that on October 15 around 12:30 p.m., a group of cops stopped him as he was smoking a joint. He ran into the Prospect Park (at Flatbush) subway station. He ran into the station, where the cops stopped him by the turnstile. Mineo says he was held down, punched, and kicked--and at one point, his pants were pulled down and one officer inserted a walkie talkie antenna into his rectum.

Hospital discharge papers do say his injuries are consistent with "anal assault," but the police say they launched an investigation right after the alleged attack and found that no wrongdoing had been done, as two witnesses who said they did not see any assault. From the Daily News:

Mineo's tale was discredited by two witnesses, the police sources said.
Several civilian witnesses watched the officers cuffing Mineo, who was shouting "Don't Taser me!" and "Don't shove a walkie up my a--!" the police sources said.
Witness told investigators that the cops did not have Tasers, nor did they see any abuse. However, one did see Mineo's pants down exposing his buttocks.

The NYPD has not, however, interviewed the accused officers or put them on modified duty, which upsets Mineo's lawyers. The NY Times reports his lawyers say "they had interviewed four witnesses who corroborate Mr. Mineo’s version of events and that police have not yet requested a copy of the hospital report.."

The Brooklyn DA's office has launched an investigation, setting up a hotline for witnesses (718-250-2759). Mineo has a criminal record, including arrests for marijuana possession and assault. But his lawyers and friends stand by him; his roommate said of the tattoo artist, "When you look at him, you’re going to think he’s a bad guy, but he just wants love.”

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 25, 2008 5:05 PM

Comments [rss]

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BlueBird0910

I do applaud the persons that showed compassion to this young man. He remains in my prayers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA&feature=email

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BlueBird0910

Reading some of the comments, I felt it was very pathetic for a few to say such rude things and be so cold hearted. What went through my mind was, they must be the wives or buddies of the bad cops. It is scary that someone could respond in the manner that some in here have; I would not want any of those people my neighbors or on a jury - or the neighborhood cop. I am Caucasian middle-age professional women (born again believer - John 3:3 and Romans 10:8-12), and I see no justification for police brutality. Obviously Al Sharpton is by this young man's side because of abuse of power that has nothing to do with race. I applaud Mr. Sharpton to stand up for this man, and I hope the young man wins a LARGE settlement against the city of New York and that will make them more responsible in training and screening law enforcement officers - and not putting insane cops like this out on the streets and subways of our city.

inoyourider

Nice how he shouted loudly and specifically about a walkie talkie...makes for good evidence later.

I said this before, why would anyone do that with their walkie? How many washings would it take for you to use it again?

AnnaZed

As for having his butt exposed; I am pretty sure he would have been wearing those pants that hang below the butt (wtf is WITH those pants, men look so pathetic in them) in the first place. A little jostling and your entire ass is out (boxers slip) probably impossible for the cops to avoid.

nivek

"When you look at him, you’re going to think he’s a bad guy, but he just wants love.”

No comment.

theevilone

So this guy checked back into the hospital for his bedside photo op with Sharpton? Interesting.

jessecal

Geez- Those radio antennas are really squiggly and really hard to insert- even with KY Gel!

I think the cops should be given radios with more rigid, and self-lubricating antennas so that rectum-insertion would quicker, easier, and relatively painless. (I don't think that they have to be sterile- but I do think that the cops should also be issues 'latex surgical gloves'! (I mean. . .you never know where a 'perp' has been lately- or even what he may have eaten recently. Sanitary conditions should be maintained at all times for the protection of both the Perps and the Cops!!)

kapusta

whenever i think of sodomy i think of cops...and vice-versa.

nigganiggachoochoo

this man is made. He'll be flossing like a ma'fugga in 2 months. I guarantee it.

RedWhiteandBrooklyn

There's a criminal, accusing the police of misconduct... and a camera... and a microphone, and... SURPRISE!!!!! Al Sharpton!

What a pathetic fool!

Hey Reverend Al: Have you paid Steven Pagones the money you owe him yet?

NannyState

I really want to believe that the cops didn't do this. Then again, they've been known to play "Crocodile Hunter" with various civilians in various situations.

glob

What a piece of garbage. I am sure his story goes something like this: "So I was walking along in the middle of the day, smoking weed, breaking the law, you know minding my own business. When all of a sudden these cops come up to me, so I ran and they had the nerve to chase me. they even had some of their buddies waiting for me in the train station, what a bunch of a-holes."

And you can bet that after running away he stopped and went peacefully. The cops would have to be pretty bold to try something like that in the middle of the day, he probably just left his house where he was being sodomized with a wooden spoon or something before he left.

luckmagnet

Smoking weed on the way to his job at a tattoo shop? I hope he wasn't one of the artists

UnrepentantFenian

Tawana Brawley.

Oh and why is that race baiting douchebag there anyway? The skell is white.

Scout1

@felix-

Do you know how to read? It is alleged they stuck the antennae of a radio in his ass.

Tawana Brawley also thought they were sick bastards.

Same with the last guy that tried to run away into the subway and wound up throwing shots at 3 officers and wishes he fired even more shots.

Seems unlikely that a relatively small radio antennae would be able to cause this severe of an injury. Especially when it is being claimed it was administered in public, in broad daylight, at the turnstile, at noon. The guy was screaming "don't shove a radio up my ass?" Something is fishy indeed. I'm sure Sharpton will sort it out.