New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday defended the New York Police Department after footage surfaced of officers using stun guns and punching a Venezuelan migrant holding a baby inside a shelter in the city.
Asked about the footage, Ms Adams said police “took appropriate actions” to apprehend the “dangerous” man. Obtained by the New York Times From another resident of the Queens Immigrant Shelter.
“Our officers responded to a dangerous individual and took appropriate action,” Adams said at a news conference at City Hall, adding that he had discussed the incident with Police Chief Edward Caban over the weekend.
“Children are not at risk,” Adams added. “This was all taken with a body-worn camera.”
In this short clip, two police officers called to the shelter for a domestic dispute attempt to separate Yannie Cordero, 47, a 1-year-old boy, and a woman who were tangled in front of an elevator. (The Times) report starts from here.
One of the officers then pulled out a stun gun and shocked the asylum seeker before hitting him in the head, according to the video.
The scuffle continued after the officers grabbed Cordero and took him away, with the officers pinning Cordero on a desk and attempting to tackle him to the ground.
Another officer then jumped in and punched Cordero twice in the face.
“This person was intoxicated and had a child in his arms. Officers had to remove the child from him,” Adams said Tuesday.
“Based on our investigation, our officers took appropriate action,” he told reporters.
