News

Video Shows New York Police Violently Enforcing Social Distancing Rules

A video of a violent early-May arrest in Manhattan over social distancing protocol caused backlash over how coronavirus-related orders are being enforced in New York.

Eyewitness Daquan Owens, who filmed the video, told Gothamist the incident started after plainclothes officers approached a man and a woman talking outside a deli in the East Village and told them to separate. Owens says the two people were maintaining a six-foot distance.

Several officers in the video were not wearing masks as well.

Owens’s video begins as several plainclothes officers attempt to handcuff two people outside the deli. About 35 seconds in, one of the officers turns to bystander Donni Wright, 33, and points a taser at him before forcing him to the ground, hitting him and kneeling on his neck.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Owens says the officer, later identified as Francisco Garcia, called Wright the n-word, which can be heard at the 37-second mark, and Wright can be heard asking if the officer if he said that word.

“Move the fuck back right now,” Garcia shouts. “Don’t flex.”

In a statement, NYPD spokesperson Sergeant Mary Frances O’Donnell said “a group was observed” on the corner “in violation of social distancing orders.”

“Donni wasn’t being aggressive, he was just talking,” Owens said. “He never raised his hands or hit him. Cop just took it upon himself to start beating on him. I was standing right next to him. I could hear everything.”

The statement said that when officers approached the group to order them to disperse, “they observed a bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” Another video shows security camera footage of the incident starting before police arrived.

Wright is charged with assaulting an officer, menacing, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and disorderly conduct. Charges have been deferred by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office pending further investigation.

Wright’s mother told the New York Daily News her son was hospitalized with severe injuries to his back, ribs and chest as a result of the arrest.

Garcia was placed on “modified assignment,” pending an investigation into the violent arrest, according to New York City police.

Garcia has a questionable history with the NYPD. He has been named in seven other lawsuits settled by the city for $210,000, including one case in which he was accused of being homophobic.

The video below may be disturbing for some readers.


Police Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed the incident is being investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau.

“I think we can be better than that,” Shea said of the video, adding that the NYPD issued 51 summonses for social distancing violations that same day, in addition to these three arrests.

Katherine Huggins

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Alongside Elon Musk & Ted Cruz

https://youtube.com/shorts/YVrfbMZSVRE?feature=share US President-elect Donald Trump drew cheers as he arrived in Texas on Nov. 19 to watch…

2 days ago

Foreign Policy Experts Voice Concern About Trump’s Nomination Of Tulsi Gabbard For Director Of National Intelligence

After President-elect Donald Trump selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, as his nominee for…

3 days ago

Trump’s Pick Of Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Alarms Scientific Community

President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be his pick for Department…

4 days ago

VIDEO: President-Elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk & Cabinet Picks Attend UFC Fight In NYC, Crowd Chants “USA”

https://youtube.com/shorts/6CUvTmS87UM?feature=share President-elect Donald Trump arrived to cheers at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in…

4 days ago

Trump Pick Of Matt Gaetz For Attorney General Sends Shock Waves Through Capitol

President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as his attorney general has sent shockwaves through…

5 days ago

VIDEO: Fights Break Out In Stand During France-Israel Match

https://youtube.com/shorts/TD8RNJl-NBk A fight broke out in one of the stands at the Stade de France…

5 days ago