Even as union leadership defend the actions of two Nassau County police officers accused of beating a suspect in April, prosecutors have dropped all charges against the suspect. The exonerated man, 20, is glad not to be facing charges for marijuana possession and other crimes. However, he suffered several broken bones in his face, and is pushing for criminal charges against the officers.
As we discussed in our May 7 blog post, the man was pulled over by the Nassau County officers on April 25 on suspicion of having a cracked windshield. A nearby security camera captured the traffic stop, during which the officers are seen punching the man and hitting him with their knees. The man lost consciousness, and suffered injuries to his face, eye and nose.
Following the violent incident, he was charged with marijuana possession, resisting arrest and tampering with physical evidence. But on May 19, WCBS-TV reported that a Supreme Court justice dropped all charges after viewing the video footage.
It remains to be seen if the officers will face charges of their own. The head of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association recently defended the officers’ conduct, saying they had to use violent force because the suspect was trying to swallow marijuana and was resisting their commands.
The suspect denies this. He says he was cooperating, and that he lunged into his vehicle to catch his paycheck before it could fly out the window. At that point, he says, he was kneed in the head.
He said he is still in pain, nearly a month later. His father said that the experience has been a “nightmare” for the family.
Source: WCBS-TV, “Prosecutors Drop Charges Against L.I. Man Who Says He Was Beaten By Police Officers,” May 19, 2014