New York police officer uses baton to 'repeatedly strike teenager'
Video footage has emerged of the incident in Brooklyn
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A New York student has said he is suing the city over an incident in which he was apparently repeatedly struck by a police officer inside his school.
Video footage shows teenager Yordy Aragonez being hit by the officer using his baton. The footage also shows the officer cursing at the student in front of other pupils.
“I was scared. It was a police officer cursing at me, hitting me, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, he is never going to stop and nobody is even trying to break it up’,” 18-year-old Mr Aragonez told NY1.
Mr Aragonez said NYPD Officer Kareem Phillips, who was assigned to the School Safety Division, hit him twice with a baton at Progress High School in Brooklyn. He said the officer intervened after he had become involved in a fight with another pupil.
“I was on the floor, and then he comes in the classroom and slams me into a desk. And I was already on the floor. He was just hitting me. I wasn't even trying to get up or nothing,” he said.
The incident happened in December, and the teenager said he suing the officer and the city for assault and more training for officers placed in schools.
“If believe you have probable cause to arrest him, then place him in handcuffs and take him away,” said Gabriel Harvis, Mr Aragonez’s lawyer. “But what you see on the video is simply an effort to sort of, I don't know what, put on a show for these poor kids that have to watch this officer brutalise young Yordy.”
Mr Phillips, 41, has spent most of his 13 year career assigned to the School Safety Division. He was not available for comment on Saturday but he has previously said he was defending himself.
The New York Police Department has said the incident is being investigated.
“As officers attempted to break up the altercation, an officer used a baton,” an NYPD spokeswoman said.
“As a matter of practice, the incident is under review by the Internal Affairs Bureau.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments