People are outraged after a viral video shows a gang of New York officers tugging a 1-year-old child from a woman’s grasp during her arrest on Sunday, Dec 9.
Eric Adams, the Brooklyn Borough President, called for several charges against 23-year-old Jazmine Headley to be dropped after pandemonium erupted at the Human Resources Administration in Boerum Hill this past weekend.
Nyashia Ferguson, a Facebook user who captured the incident on camera called the incident disturbing. She told the New York Times that it all started when Headley sat on the floor with her baby at the HRA building because all the seats were taken. She was there to request day-care vouchers for her child.
(photo credit: @nyashiaferguson Facebook. NYPD yanks a baby from mother as they arrest her.)
Security then approached the 23-year-old mother and ordered her to stand. Headley refused to do so and the supervisor called the police.
Ferguson confirmed that the young woman and her child were not blocking any passageways or entrances.
“She called five other security guards, all harassing her, bothering her,” Ferguson said to ABC 7. “Everyone…was like, ‘leave the girl alone, she’s not bothering anyone, just sitting there like all day.’ They kept harassing her.”
The beginning point of the video shows Headley surrounded by four officers, three of them female cops. She’s seen yelling, “They’re hurting my son! They’re hurting my son!” as she lays on the floor cradling her baby.
The officers, one who was a female sergeant began physically pulling and jerking the 1-year from Headley as the toddler cries.
During one point of the video, the young mother tried pleading with officers to let go of her son and says, “I’m begging you.”
Chaos erupts as infuriated bystanders tell officers to leave Headley “alone.” That’s when the NYPD cop who yanked the child waved a stun gun at the crowd including several children who were among onlookers.
“I was just so disgusted and scared,” said Ferguson. “I thought the cops supposed to help you. They just straight up came and attacked the lady.”
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office stated on Monday, “Our office is conducting an independent investigation into this troubling case, and we are in the process of reviewing all available videos and interviewing witnesses with the intention of reaching a swift decision. … We did not request any bail, and Ms. Headley’s hold is in connection with a warrant from New Jersey. We are reaching out to authorities in that state to expedite her release.”
All the officers who were involved in the incident continue to remain on full-duty status according to a police spokesman. Authorities refused to give their names.
City Council speaker Corey Johnson tweeted on Sunday, “This is unacceptable, appalling and heart breaking. … I’d like to understand what transpired and how these officers or the NYPD justifies this. It’s hard to watch this video.”
https://www.facebook.com/nyashia.ferguson/videos/2165023130216850/
