An NYPD officer has been suspended and stripped of his badge and gun after video surfaced that appears to show him kicking a suspect during a chaotic arrest in Sunset Park on Sunday. The altercation between officers and vendors started after the NYPD tried to end a street fair and disperse the vendors.
A heated verbal dispute devolved into a physical altercation after officers moved to arrest one of the vendors. As police struggle to handcuff a man in a black and white jacket, one officer can be seen kicking him in the side, and then walking away. Here's video:
Speaking to reporters today, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said the street fair was supposed to end at 6 p.m., but police allowed it to continue for an extra hour. When they tried to reopen the street to motorists shortly after 7 p.m., some of the vendors allegedly refused to disperse. The video shows multiple vendors resisting arrest.
"I was very concerned with a video that was taken and the actions of one of our officers who was seen kicking an individual," Bratton said today. "As best I could tell looking at that video it seemed to be totally unprovoked. That officer has been suspended and in terms of suspension in this department that means he's been relieved of his gun, his badge and his police duties."
Police say five arrests were made, with charges including assault, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration. The Daily News reports that one officer sustained an ankle injury during the "fracas."
Internal Affairs is investigating the incident, and Bratton told reporters today that the local precinct will host a community town hall meeting to discuss the arrests.
