Police Beat Alleged Cop Shooter At Precinct Station House, Lawyer Says

(AP/Louis Lanzano)

The court-appointed attorney for alleged cop shooter Luis "Baby" Ortiz said his client was beaten while he was in police custody. At Ortiz's arraignment yesterday, lawyer Eric Poulos surprised no one by accusing cops of roughing up his client after he was arrested, bruising his face and chipping a tooth. “He was struck by police officers’ fists, both at the scene and at the station house hours after,” Poulos told the judge yesterday. Considering all the other horrible things that can happen to a perp while in police custody, it sounds like the alleged cop shooter got off easy.

The judge granted a request for medical attention for Ortiz, who pleaded not guilty. His attorney said, "I think there is an effort here by the prosecution to sandbag this case. The videotape shows wrestling—it doesn't show who did the shooting. The gun was found outside in the projects." Ortiz was picked out of three different lineups by witnesses, but his lawyer says called the lineups "a set up" since police didn't allow Mr. Ortiz to change his clothing, the Wall Street Journal reports.

But prosecutor Lewis Lieberman called the shooting "an assassination attempt by this defendant against Police Officer [Kevin] Brennan," who miraculously survived a bullet to the head. Prosecutors say surveillance video shows Ortiz and Brennan scuffling in a hallway of the Bushwick Houses Tuesday night, and in the video the suspect loses a white sneaker. Ortiz was later arrested wearing one white sneaker that matched the one recovered at the scene, and investigators say ballistic tests show the bullet recovered from Brennan's head matches a gun found outside the apartment where Ortiz was collared.

Ortiz faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted, and sources tell the Post that the .38-caliber revolver used to shoot Brennan was the same gun used in the New Year’s Day murder of drug dealer Shannon Mckenzie. (Ortiz was wanted for questioning in that murder.) Investigators also say Officer Brennan cheated death twice, because Ortiz tried to squeeze off a second round, but the gun misfired. "If the second bullet went off, he’d probably be dead," one source tells the Post. And an Ortiz neighbor tells the tabloid, "He’s a trigger-happy motherf--ker."

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

By John Del Signore in News on February 3, 2012 11:22 AM

Comments [rss]

James Telford

I just find it too bad that ortiz didnt kill that faakin pig mf pos. I was pleased to hear he was in a lot of pain but displeased he didnt die in agony

sk8orcrie

its great to see white people on this website (as usual) manifesting their hatred of people of color through police brutality support. I know you are a remorseless bastards, but our police officers must live by a code as well, and that includes not beating the crap out of a suspect who hasnt even been arraigned yet. Cops are supposed to handcuff and arrest, not mercilessly beat. In this country, we have this little misunderstood clause about trial by jury, not trial by baton wielding police. We live in a country where the biases of overworked police officers who watch training videos about jihads, substitute for the rule of law. I can understand that they lost a partner, but as an African-American, I must say I feel anger at the murder of another unarmed 18 year old bronx teen this week, but that doesnt mean i have the right to beat the crap of the officer who did it right? oh okay

Ge Zu

i reserve most my comments till all the evidence is show and then give my opinion..but for now the victim is not only the cop but also ortiz because he has to fight for his life if he is innocent ,remember is innocent till proven guilty not guilty till proven innocent..

MarkSimeone

Baby wanted to mess with the cops, did Baby really think they were going to just lay down and not give Baby some love? Yo, I be liking dat! Let's donate those tennis shoes to charity, Baby won't be needing them no mo.

ralna pearson

You New Yorkers are supposed to be soooo liberal and open-minded with your "melting pot" city. But in reality you all are just as narrow-minded as some redneck. The police culture all across this nation is out of control; you have thugs arresting thugs.

hotguy

Raina
Spare us ykur lib dem drivel!!
You dont live in da hood!!
You just want us whites to feel bad for ol spix
Well if they behave like other groups and do good.
Whites would not have to talk ill about them.
But all the spix n jigs do is sell drugs and form gangs and shoot heroin all day.
Yall should be ashamed of yer selves

hotguy

I aint liberal. Im keeping it real. Saying like it is. So mayor bloonie needs to knock down these cess pools of crime and let these lowlife crazy bastards fend for themselves. Iowa got flooded wity the chicago dregs from fhe southside after the mayor of chicago decided theyd had enough of subsidizing the dregs. Now iowa is full of these blax and aint it wonderful now in des moines!!

OleS

Cry me a fucking river.

Adam Moreira

Ortiz hardly sounds credible---he knows that he's up the creek for many years and he's trying to garner some sympathy...don't work that way, buddy!

D.B

Who cares if he was beaten ! Right , OR wrong, He got a taste of what he deserved ! You pop shit to, and about cops and they catch, and lock you up . You have to expect an asswhuppin behind closed doors ! The NYPD is the largest Gang in NYC ! The difference is they get to do their dirt legally !

"Tim Osman"

Their dirt ain't legal they just get to get away with it most of the time. The law is the law and does not offer any special provisions for the police.

Alie H

When people don't want to live by the law why should they be treated with the same justice as our laws adhere to? It makes me want to laugh and bang my head.

ElvisShalit

A beating made for a King. One King-sized ass whooping comin up. Youre gonna try to shoot and kill someone and confused when the party gets some payback? Are you serious? These cops put alot on the line took give this guy a filling in.

NYC247

The police culture is one that is very strong...officers really look out for each other, so yes, if you're going to shoot at one of their own expect repercussions other than the law dictates.

"Tim Osman"

That does not make it right. I can understand their emotions and reasoning but it still goes against what they are supposed to stand for.

D.B

Bullshit ! Cops are like that one bully in the school yard that amasses a group of lacky's to do some of the dirty work . It has nothing to do with a "family" Oriented setting . Like I stated in a later post , The NYPD is the largest Gang in NYC ! If this kid was White , ( First off he wouldn't have ran off at the mouth , Ran from the Police , Got into a tussle with one , Shot the cop in the head in an effort to escape) They wouldn't have beaten him in the cell . Point-blank !!!

NYC247

Ooooh please, if he was white and had shot a police officer he would still get beaten. This has nothing to do with being black, white, hispanic, or asian....

fosiacat

boo hoo.
"waaaah! im a criminal and you treated me bad!! waaaaah!"

fuck off, i thought you were so tough, take your beating like a man.

D.B

I'm afraid of you ! Are you a Republican by chance ?

KelleyE

Maybe he misbehaved.

Or maybe he had it coming to him. If you shoot a police officer, other police offers take it personally.

It's hard to imagine how a sweet young man like that could have drawn the ire of the police, however. LOL