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A New York City police officer faces charges for allegedly punching a man more than a dozen times while responding to a call about an emotionally disturbed child last year, prosecutors said Wednesday.
NYPD officer Christian Zapata has been indicted on one count of assault in the third degree stemming from the December 2022 incident, prosecutors said.
Zapata, 36, of the Bronx, pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor assault and was released on his own recognizance on Wednesday.
While responding with several officers to a call of an autistic teen in crisis in a Harlem apartment on Dec. 7, 2022, Zapata allegedly punched the boyfriend of the teen’s mother approximately 13 times in the span of nine seconds, prosecutors said. The incident was captured on police body-worn cameras.
The victim “asked the officers multiple times to put on facemasks and even called 911 seeking the assistance of [a] supervisor,” the Manhattan district attorney’s office said in a statement. “The officers refused to do so.”
When the victim tried to check on the child, Zapata told him he was interfering with emergency medical services and would be arrested, according to prosecutors.
Body camera footage shows another officer begin backing the boyfriend down a hallway. The boyfriend swats the officer’s hand away but complies with commands to move away, at which point Zapata steps in and allegedly begins punching the man, prosecutors said.
Zapata can then be heard apologizing to the victim’s son who saw the altercation. “I’m sorry young man, sorry you had to see that,” he says.
The 43-year-old boyfriend was initially arrested following the incident but the Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to prosecute and instead turned the boyfriend into a witness against Zapata.
“Christian Zapata is charged with repeatedly punching a victim who posed no immediate danger or physical threat,” Manhattan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement. “We will continue to impartially investigate instances where members of law enforcement use unnecessary force, because doing so is essential for enhancing public safety and confidence in the criminal justice system.”
In a letter to the police commissioner, Zapata insisted he never loses his composure “because I understand the number one goal of policing is always de-escalation,” according to court records.
“My actions in this incident should speak loud and clear that I perceived a hostile threat after the defendant aggressively put his hands on a police officer,” the letter said, according to court records. “I perceived the defendant fighting with my fellow officer and I responded accordingly. I will never stand by and watch a fellow officer get hurt and I stand on that principle.”
The NYPD placed Zapata on modified duty following the incident and demoted him from the rank of sergeant to police officer in August.
“My actions in this incident should speak loud and clear that I perceived a hostile threat after the defendant aggressively put his hands on a police officer,”
Jesus fucking christ some of these cops are the biggest over-reactors it’s ridiculous. “He put his hand up so I punched him 13 times, it was clearly his fault he shouldn’t have put his hand up!”
Is it any wonder so many beat their partners?
The fact that they know they can get away with it plays a big role.
I wonder who beats who in a 2 cop relationship.
I think that just becomes a Mexican standoff
So many jobs will fire people over little things, but cops are here, on video, punching people for no reason and
only get ‘suspended’.Granted this is without pay, which is better than it sometimes is, but still insane.Edit: A reply pointed out he was only put on desk duty, which is even worse.
The NYPD placed Zapata on modified duty following the incident and demoted him from the rank of sergeant to police officer in August.
Desk work, not suspension.
jfc thats even worse, also means the other article I read was lying. I’ll edit my comment.
Removed by mod
The NYPD placed Zapata on modified duty following the incident and demoted him from the rank of sergeant to police officer in August.
Oh good, maybe he’ll give some innocent person a modified 13 punches.
If you have a problem, and you call police, now you have two problems.
Hell hath no fury like a piglet scorned.
Stack the SCOTUS and end qualified immunity
