New York officials say dashcam proves woman’s allegations she was assaulted by cops ‘false’

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An internal Long Island investigation involving examination of dash camera images refuted a claim by a black woman that she was assaulted by police following a recent shooting, said Friday officials.

“The evidence gathered in this investigation shows that the allegation that the police physically assaulted this individual for no reason is false,” Suffolk County Director Steve Bellone said, according to Newsday.

“The evidence, in fact, indicated that these officers acted in the best interests of this victim,” Bellone, a Democrat, told reporters at Hauppauge County government offices.

The announcement came after Cindy M. O’Pharrow filed a notice of claim against Suffolk County and its police department, alleging that officers injured her arm while forcibly removing an ambulance from her as a result of a shooting on June 27 at a graduation party in Dix Hills.

His lawyer, Frederick K. Brewington, held a press conference on July 7 to announce the complaint, which also alleged that officers were cursed at OPharrow, refused to provide their names and lit flashlights in his phone laptop when she tried to take photos and videos of police officers at the scene.

“This lawyer appeared in front of several cameras and said that these police officers had used force against someone for no reason,” Bellone said on Friday. “The lawyer then actually held up pictures of these officers and accused them of abusing their power… of abusing their authority, of physically assaulting a woman for no reason. . None of this is true. “

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Less than two minutes of onboard camera footage released to reporters on Friday showed a 20-year-old man from West Babylon who was shot in the stomach being loaded into the ambulance.

Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron said the video shows OPharrow growing “agitated” and “waving his finger” at EMS personnel before boarding the ambulance.

“She wouldn’t come down and the firefighters wouldn’t go with her in there,” Cameron said.

A man, who authorities have identified as the cousin of the shooting victims, is seen standing in front of the ambulance repeatedly repeating, “Get out just so they can leave.”

Two officers are then seen lifting OPharrow by the arms and exiting the ambulance. Cameron said the officers “took great care to place her carefully on the ground so that she was not injured.”

“She was delaying the transport of a seriously injured person, but I think she was well intentioned,” Cameron said.

He said the police had shown “great restraint” and would have been justified in arresting OPharrow. Arguing that traumatic incidents can sometimes cloud judgment, Cameron described OPharrow, who is president of a mentorship program for young police officers called Cops N ‘Kids Long Island, as a “very wonderful person” who was trying to help. the aftermath of the shooting.

Authorities also announced on Friday a reward of $ 2,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who fired, who has still not been identified by authorities. The victim has since been released from hospital, Newsday reported.

“From Mr Bellones’ statements it is clear that he decided for the police department that the charges were unfounded, proving that so many in the public came forward,” Brewington said in a statement emailed to the newspaper on Friday.

“Suffolk Internal Affairs hasn’t even interviewed Ms OPharrow yet, and they’re making a decision,” the civil rights attorney said. “What kind of police work is this? Obviously, no civilian even has a chance to pursue justice. Obviously, there is no denying that force has been used against Ms. OPharrow.”

Cameron said investigators repeatedly contacted OPharrow but were unable to schedule an interview. Bellone said showing the dash cam video on Friday was important because the public nature of the allegations threatened to “undermine public confidence” in the police service.

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Brewington is also the attorney for a $ 35 million federal lawsuit filed against the Suffolk County Police Department last week.

In the separate case, Det. Sgt. Tulio Serrata, a 23-year veteran of the force, says his promotions were blocked five times due to his Dominican heritage and the department then hit back at him for speaking out by moving him to another neighborhood with less. of overtime pay opportunities, WCBS-TV reported.

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