The follow are descriptions of just a few cases of police violence in NYC:

Juanita Young: has been the target of NYPD violence since she became an outspoken organizer and leader in the movement against police violence after the murder of her son, Malcolm Ferguson, by the NYPD in 2000. Juanita has successfully contested two false arrest by the NYPD. In November 2006, claiming they needed to check on the welfare of her children, police officers broke down the door to Juanita's home, arrested and assaulted her, resulting in her hospitalization. In October 2008 a Bronx Jury found Juanita NOT guilty on all counts. Juanita wonders what the NYPD will try next. She is currently trying to bring murder charges against the police officer who murdered her son Malcolm by using the testimony he gave at the civil suit, where Officer Rivera says he killed Malcolm for "no reason."

Puerto Rican Day Parade: In June 2007, 208 people, mostly youth, were arrested because they were wearing black and gold clothing and/or beads around their necks. According to the officers involved, the arrests were justified because the colors and beads worn by the parade-goers signified membership in the Latin King and Queen Nation. To add insult to injury, some of the arrests targeted people who were wearing beads as part of their religious practice. Many of the charges have since been dropped and a few lawsuits against the NYPD have been paid out. Others are pending. 

Timur Person: Timur was a 19-year-old man who was shot four times in the chest and once in the neck by plain-clothes detectives in December 2006. When Timur was killed at close range his hands were in the air and he was lying face-up on thefloor. There has been no investigation into his murder, the DA's office refuses to investigate.

Corey Mickins: Corey was shot 27 times and killed by plain-clothes detective in March 2007 while eating at one of his favorite restaurants. The detectives claim Corey had a gun and shot an officer in the ankle, yet no finger prints were found on the gun they claim belonged to Corey and no gun powder was found on him or his clothing. Eyewitnesses support the fact that Corey did NOT have a gun. As of yet there has been NO investigation into Corey's murder.

Jesus Bracero: In May 2007 56-year-old Mr. Bracero was attacked by NYPD officers while dropping his 15-year-old daughter off at school. When his wife and children arrived at the precinct to check on his condition, the officers were rude and violent, throwing Mrs. Bracero across the room and falsely arresting their son. The attack on Mr Bracero was so vicious that witness's yelled, "Stop! Your going to kill him!" and called 911 for assistance. Mr. Bracero went to trial on September 2008 and was found guilty of resisting arrest by a predominately wealthy and white jury from Battery Park City, Gramercy Park, the Upper West Side, Greenwich Village  and Midtown Manhattan. Mr. Bracero is currently appealing the decision and a civilsuit is pending. Since the police attack Mr. Bracero suffers from shoulder and back pain.

Jayson Tirado: In October 2007 Jayson Tirado, an unarmed motorist was shot and killed by off-duty New York City Detective Sean Sawyer after Jayson didn't allow the detective to cut in front of his vehicle as they both exited the FDR drive. Aftershooting Jayson, the detective fled the scene and waited 19 hours to turn himself in. In July 2008 a Manhattan grand jury decided not to indict Detective Sean Sawyer.

Khiel Coppin: In November 2007 NYPD officers shot 20 bullets at Khiel Coppin, a mentally ill 18-year-old from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, striking him 8 times.  Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly claims the officers were provoked by Khiel when he pointed an object at them that looked like a gun.  After the police ceased fire, they found the object he was holding was a hairbrush. An eyewitness  said Officers told Coppin to put his hands up.  When Khiel did, he dropped the brush and the officers began to shoot.

Ryan Nunez: In November 2007 police officers attacked six young men with nightsticks and mace while they were eating at a McDonald's restaurant in Washington Heights. Ryan, 16, was in the Intensive Care Unit at Harlem Hospital for three days as a result of his injuries. He was charged as an adult with several misdemeanors and "assault on a police officer." Ryan spent close to 10 months fighting these charges in Manhattan Criminal Court. In September 2008 all charges against Ryan were dropped.

Iman Morales: Iman Morales, a mentally ill man, was killed by NYPD officers on September 24th, 2008. Iman was tasered while standing on the ledge of a store front awning 10 feet high without an inflatable bag to break his fall. The officers ignored his mother's cries for an inflatable bag, and made no attempts to catch Mr. Morales who fell to his death after being tasered. The Lieutenant that ordered the tasing killed himself a week after. Although it is against police procedures to taser someone in an elevated position, Sergeant Marchesona, who fired the taser that killed Iman was promoted to Detective six weeks after the killing.

Contact the Justice Committee if you or someone you know hasbeen a victim of police violence and you would like our support.

Phone: 212-614-5343 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information about our support of cases visit: the justicecommittee.org