Update on NYPD Misbehavior

by jackie sheeler on June 30, 2006

so Victor is back at his post at the building. at arraignment, the judge looked at Victor’s clean record, looked at the unhurt cop, looked at the hospital records on the damage done to Victors arm, and released him ROR, despite the prosecutor demanding $7,000 in bail.

and the building management and tenants are 100% in support of him, and not at all happy about the scene created by the NYPD on 6/22. i actually got a call from Deputy Inspector Dwayne Montgomery, the commanding officer of the 28th precinct, in response to a fax i sent to him recounting the events that i witnessed that day. he acknowledged that “mistakes had been made” and agreed to do what he could to at least lessen the charges against Victor, which were listed as obstruction of justice, assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. how you can resist arrest by someone in street clothes who never identified himself as a police officer is a bit beyond my powers of comprehension, but i know that’s how the system works — anytime there’s a public display and any chance of police wrongdoing, the accused is charged with resisting arrest. (my dad was an NYPD street cop for 20 years, so i’ve got a bit of the inside story.) and how you can be charged with assaulting an officer when the only person hurt is the arrestee also defies comprehension.

i’m just glad Victor got a smart and courageous judge, one who was able to sort through and see through all the BS and say hell no, we are not going down this road.

Victor’s next court date is in October. i’m going to get a petition circulating around the neighborhood some time next week, i’m just drafting is now. my guess is that a few thousand people will sign it on Victor’s behalf. will it do any good? who knows. but when you’re fighting a system that’s already stacked against you, the more ammunition the better. even if it’s just bows and arrows.

write to me if you’re interested in the petition, and i’ll let you know where/when it will be available.