A case of excessive force in New York City has resulted in criminal charges being filed against an NYPD officer after video was captured showing the individual knocking a peaceful protestor to the ground in Brooklyn. The officer was policing Black Lives Matter protests at the beginning of June when he was captured on video shoving a woman.
The victim, Dounya Zayer was filming the protests when Officer Vincent D’Andraia approached her and ordered her to clear the street. The woman asked the officer why he was issuing such an order but instead of answering with words, he answered with physical violence. The video shows the victim crashing to the pavement and then clutching the back of her head. The woman was eventually hospitalized with a non-life-threatening concussion.
In a radical change from such cases in the recent past, the NYPD’s response was swift and decisive. Instead of handling the incident internally with “modified duty” and internal sanctions, they charged the officer in question. Indeed, Officer D’Andraia was charged with misdemeanor assault.
This is likely not the last incident of excessive force in New York City to result in criminal charges in response to the policing of Black Lives Matter protestors in NYC. Indeed, a New York Times report states that prosecutors are contemplating bringing misconduct or criminal charges against as many as 40 NYPD officers in response to violations of NYPD policy and NYC laws.
NYPD is also in the midst of reviewing all their policies dealing with the public at large. They are examining whether their current policies discriminate systemically or inadvertently against certain parts of the NYC populations.
If you’ve been the victim of such violence, contact an experienced New York City excessive force attorney as soon as you are able. To recover for your emotional and physical injuries along with any lost time from work and any unpaid medical expenses, call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 888-391-8546 or 212-385-1122 for your confidential consultation today.