(Image via the Legal Aid Society)
Jan. 7, 2021 By Michael Dorgan
The Queens District Attorney’s Office is investigating a case of possible police brutality after a video surfaced of an NYPD officer kneeling on a man’s neck in Jamaica Saturday – a maneuver banned by the City Council following the death of George Floyd in May.
The investigation follows video footage being posted online showing cops arresting a man in front of 113-08 Sutphin Blvd. One officer allegedly kneels on the suspect’s neck while onlookers can be heard screaming for the police to stop.
The victim, Sircarlyle Arnold, was being arrested for riding an all-terrain vehicle recklessly through the neighborhood at around 7 p.m.
The Queens DA office said that they are aware of the allegations made against the NYPD officers and that the incident is now under investigation.
“Our Public Corruption Bureau is in the process of reviewing all evidence in this case, including the officers’ body worn camera videos,” a spokeswoman for the DA’s Office said.
TW: This video shows NYPD officers kneeling on my client, Sircarlyle Arnold’s, neck in Queens, NY, while bystanders beg them to stop. This is eerily similar to what was done to George Floyd in May 2020 pic.twitter.com/5Tzxi6ShpT
— Olayemi Olurin (@msolurin) January 6, 2021
Arnold, who is from Long Island, was arrested by cops for riding an ATV with a group as part of a vigil for a friend who died, according to his attorney, Olayemi Olurin, who posted footage of the incident. Olurin represents the Legal Aid Society law firm.
“This video shows NYPD officers kneeling on my client….while bystanders beg them to stop,” Olurin tweeted.
“This is eerily similar to what was done to George Floyd in May 2020.”
Onlookers can be heard shouting “look at his knee,” and “take his knee off,” to the cops.
Olurin said that Arnold was not fighting the cops nor was he resisting arrest. The Legal Aid Society has called for the cops to be fired and charges against Arnold to be dropped.
“These officers’ first impulse was to employ an illegal, life-threatening knee-on-neck hold on Mr. Arnold,” a statement by the firm reads.
“Not only should the case against Mr. Arnold be immediately dismissed in the interest of justice, but the NYPD must expeditiously terminate the officers involved, and DA Katz – upholding her promise to hold accountable officers who commit serious acts of misconduct – must bring charges.”
#BREAKING: We are calling on @QueensDAKatz to dismiss the charges against #SircarlyleArnold, a client who was violently arrested by the NYPD and placed in a knee-on-neck hold, the same technique used in the killing of #GeorgeFloyd. @LegalAidNYC pic.twitter.com/Yq5akZCCz5
— Olayemi Olurin (@msolurin) January 6, 2021
Arnold appeared in Queens Criminal Court Sunday and faced several charges including reckless endangerment, reckless driving, driving on sidewalks, and operating a vehicle without a license. His license has been suspended on three or more occasions previously, according to the complaint. Arnold was also charged with marijuana possession and disorderly conduct.
The NYPD said that they are aware of the allegations made against its officers and the incident is under internal review.
The case could be the first to test new city council legislation passed last year which made it a misdemeanor for cops to use methods of restraints like kneeling on a suspect’s back or chokeholds while making an arrest.
The move came following the death of George Floyd and a series of violent police clashes with civilians over the summer.
My client #CarlyleArnold and I spoke to CBS today about the incident on January 2, 2021 where NYPD officers are on video on top of Mr. Arnold while one officer placed his knee on neck while bystanders beg them to stop to no avail. These officers must be fired and disciplined pic.twitter.com/2BxzbTqiP9
— Olayemi Olurin (@msolurin) January 7, 2021
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