The incident occurred at a bus stop around 2:45 p.m., according to CBS New York. Police said she was responding to a fight between two groups of girls. When the police tried to arrest the 14-year-old girl, her 12-year-old sister hit her and she hit back.
An eight-second video clip of part of the scene shows the police repeatedly punching the girl in the head with his fist. The beginning and ending of the unsightly exchange was not captured on video. The name of the suspended officer has not yet been released. The victim’s name has also not been released. However, it is customary for minors not to be disclosed.
The New York Police Department confirmed the suspension of the officer on Twitter on the morning of the 4th. “The NYPD confirmed an incident last night in Staten Island where police responded to a brawl between a youth group. He has been suspended.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also commented on the incident following being questioned at the press conference. Former police chief Mayor Adams, who has avoided criticizing the police in the past and has police officers who have been questioned for their words and actions, now admits the fault, saying, “The footage in the video is not good.”