A 23-year-old Bronx man is claiming he was assaulted by police while waiting at a doorstep to meet a friend.
According to WABC-TV, “Santiago Hernandez says he was assaulted by up to half a dozen uniformed New York police officers after he was stopped and frisked in the Melrose section of the Bronx” on August 18th at about 6 p.m.
“I turned around and put my hands up,” said Hernandez, adding that he did exactly what the officer asked him to do.
WABC Eyewitness News reporter N.J. Burkett asked Hernandez “Did she say why she was searching you?” to which he replied “no.”
Hernandez explains that the officers advised him they were investigating a noise complaint. According to WABC, Hernandez asked the cops why he had been searched. at which point one of the officers grabbed his arm and slapped on handcuffs.
“I’m like, ‘Miss what you doing? You are hurting my arm,'” Hernandez said.
“She just was telling me to put my hands behind my back, but ‘I’m like trying to understand what are you are arresting me for. Can you please tell me?'” Hernandez said.
As WABC reports,
Moments later, half-a-dozen officers arrived and appeared to pile-on. Hernandez said he was punched, kicked, beaten with nightsticks, and blasted with pepper spray.
“They was taking turns on me. One kicks me, he steps back. Another one comes to punch me and he steps back. And another one comes and grabs my arm and hits me like 10 times with the baton. Another one comes and pepper sprayed me, they were taking turns like a gang,” Hernandez said.
Although Hernandez was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, the district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case.
Internal affairs is now investigating the incident and Hernandez is filing a civil complaint through his attorney.
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