College Student Claims Police Brutality During Incident In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man who was arrested in Queens is claiming police brutality and says he has the video to prove it.
As CBS 2's Jessica Schneider reported Thursday, Queens college student Alejandro Rodriguez says he was attacked by New York Police Department officers while he was just trying to get take-out tacos in Jackson Heights early Monday.
In the video obtained by CBS 2, you can see the situation between Rodriguez and the officers escalate quickly. The video purportedly shows Rodriguez with his hands up when an officer pushes him into a storefront gate as he tried to arrest him.
It is unclear what happened leading up to that moment, Schneider reported.
While CBS 2 has no video of before the argument, Rodriguez claims he was taunted by the officers and when he began arguing with them, the attack occurred.
"A police officer out of nowhere said 'enjoy your tacos you little punk.' Which escalated to an argument, when he told his partner 'oh, he speaks English.' After that, we exchanged a couple of words. Another officer from behind slams me into this gate, throws me on the floor there, starts kicking me, starts punching me," Rodriguez said.
Police sources, however, told CBS 2 that Rodriguez appeared to be intoxicated and was shouting obscenities when the officers first encountered him. The sources said that when officers ordered Rodriguez to leave, he spit at them.
As the officers tried to place Rodriguez under arrest, police sources told CBS 2 that Rodriguez refused to be handcuffed and physically struggled with the officers.
The 22-year-old said an ambulance took him to the hospital following the incident.
Two officers were also injured during the altercation. They were both taken to New York Hospital and treated for hand and knee injuries, according to police sources.
The NYPD said Rodriguez has been charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
The incident has been referred to the Internal Affairs Bureau and the NYPD told CBS 2 that it will be investigated by the civilian complaint review board.
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