NYPD Officer Indicted on Assault After Repeatedly Punching Defenseless Man

A New York police officer was indicted on assault after repeatedly punching a man who was apparently defenseless. However, the NYPD officer pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied the accusations.

On November 10, 2021, New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Juan Perez, then 40, responded to a report about a man who was erratic. Reportedly, the man was throwing water on pedestrians in the neighborhood of West Village. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered a standoff between three men, with one holding a large bottle of alcohol.

According to Beech, the NYPD officer called for an ambulance believing that the erratic man was intoxicated. However, the man reportedly claimed that he was not the person to be arrested. During their argument, both Perez and the man fell to the ground, allegedly struggling.

Reports say Perez’s partner helped restrain the erratic man which allowed the NYPD officer to punch the defenseless victim six times on the face. Fortunately, the man was immediately transported to a hospital where he was diagnosed with significant swelling and a broken nose.

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Charges Faced by NYPD Officer

An article in the Manhattan District Attorney website states that most events of the incident were captured on police body cameras and videos from bystanders. Based on these pieces of evidence, the Grand Jury found that the NYPD officer was not justified in his use of force.

Thereafter, the NYPD officer was indicted on a misdemeanor assault charge. However, on May 24, Perez allegedly pleaded not guilty in court and denied the accusations granted by the district attorney. Nonetheless, reports say Perez had been suspended without pay. On August 2, he is also scheduled to appear in court again.

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