Video of NYPD officer putting knee on man’s neck for the duration of Queens arrest echoes arrest and loss of life of George Floyd
Indicator up for our COVID-19 newsletter to continue to be up-to-date on the most up-to-date coronavirus news in the course of New York Metropolis
The Authorized Support Society is contacting for charges to be dropped in opposition to a person arrested in Jamaica before this thirty day period, immediately after newly launched video displays an NYPD officer positioning his knee on the man’s neck throughout the arrest.
The video echoes the arrest and loss of life of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked protests versus police brutality more than the summer time.
The online video exhibits Sircarlyle Arnold, 34, staying arrested and held down by 3 NYPD officers, with just one of whom showing to have put his knee on Arnold’s neck.
TW: This online video exhibits NYPD officers kneeling on my consumer, Sircarlyle Arnold’s, neck in Queens, NY, though bystanders beg them to stop. This is eerily identical to what was completed to George Floyd in Could 2020 pic.twitter.com/5Tzxi6ShpT
— Olayemi, Esq. (@msolurin) January 6, 2021
The incident, which took area on Jan. 2, in front of 113-08 Sutphin Blvd., started out when officers noticed Arnold allegedly working an ATV illegally in the middle of the avenue, in accordance to the expenses.
Video of the arrest exhibits Arnold pinned to the floor with numerous officers on prime of him as a close by group begs the officer to consider his knee off of Arnold’s neck.
The criminal complaint towards Arnold will make no point out of the incident demonstrated in the video clip, nor does it point out any wrestle all through the arrest.
“This video clip is basically a microcosm of the racist policing that Black and Latinx New Yorkers put up with on a regular foundation,” stated Olayemi Olurin, a staff legal professional with the Queens Demo Office who is symbolizing Arnold in court.
Chokeholds and techniques like it, which includes positioning a knee on someone’s neck, were banned in New York Town in July through the top off Black Lives Issue protests in the five boroughs.
“These officers’ initially impulse was to hire an unlawful, lifestyle-threatening knee-on-neck maintain on Mr. Arnold,” Olurin reported. “Not only should the case in opposition to Mr. Arnold be right away dismissed in the desire of justice, but the NYPD have to expeditiously terminate the officers included, and DA Katz – upholding her assure to maintain accountable officers who commit severe acts of misconduct – need to deliver prices. The Lawful Help Culture demands responses and justice for Mr. Arnold, his spouse and children and his community.”
Arnold faces fees of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, functioning a motor car by an unlicensed driver, aggravated unlicensed operator, obstruction of targeted traffic, driving a motor auto on a sidewalk and possession of cannabis in Queens Prison Court docket, wherever he first created an visual appeal on Sunday, Jan. 3.
Arnold, who was unveiled on his individual recognizance on Sunday, is scheduled to return to court on March 24.
“We are knowledgeable of the incident and it is beneath inside review,” a law enforcement spokesperson said on Wednesday afternoon.
The DA’s workplace on Wednesday afternoon explained that they was mindful of the allegations towards the NYPD in the scenario.
“We are informed of the allegations from NYPD officers in the circumstance of Folks v. Sircarlyle Arnold,” a DA spokesperson mentioned. “Our General public Corruption Bureau is in the course of action of examining all proof in this situation, which includes the officers’ body worn digicam films.”
This story was updated with comment from the Queens District Attorney’s place of work and the NYPD at 3:58 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
This tale initially appeared on our sister publication qns.com.