In the Bronx, New York, four cops from the 42nd Precinct in Tremont got their shields and guns taken away after brutal footage of them grossly beating teenager Jatiek Reed, 19, surfaced on the internet.
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The video shows Jatiek initially resisting force, as officers tried to pin him against a building. Consequently, the police assaulted Jatiek with kicks, punches and strikes with their batons.
The boy recording the incident is then approached by an officer walking towards him aiming pepper spray and shouting, “Move back, move back!”
Jatiek’s mother Schuan expressed her disapproval with the incident telling the NY Post:
“He has staples in his head, staples in his arm. His whole back is black and blue like they were beating on a slave. I refuse to let them railroad my son and accuse him of something he didn’t do. If they saw his stash of drugs, then where are the drugs? If you beat on a dog like that, you go to jail. They should go to jail, too.”
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne spoke on the investigation process saying, “We have put four officers on modified duty during the course of our investigation… Their guns and shields were removed while we investigate allegations of police brutality.”
Police claim that before the video, officers saw Jatiek trying to stash away drugs, though it has not been reported that any drugs were found.
Jatiek is now being held at Rikers Island on assault charges and Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson is looking into the matter.
This appears to be a completely excessive use of force by NYPD police officers. We hope that the investigation process brings justice to Jatiek and all officers involved.
