A New York City officer has pleaded no contest to charges stemming from a drunken attack in which police say he broke into a Black family’s Tennessee home and proceeded to shout racial slurs at them.
Michael Reynolds, 25, entered the plea in a Nashville court Thursday, local station WTVF-TV reported. The Manhattan cop is charged with one count of aggravated criminal trespassing and three counts of assault.
NYPD officer Michael Reynolds, 25, faces criminal trespass charges as well as three counts of assault after breaking into a Black family’s Nashville home. (Photo: Metro Nashville Police Department)
The incident occurred in July of 2018 when Reynolds, who was staying at a nearby AirBnb, reportedly burst into Conese Halliburton‘s Nashville home, breaking down her door and hurling racial epithets at her and her four sons. Halliburton’s then-17-year-old and 20-year-old sons restrained Reynolds during the chaotic encounter as she called local police, The Tennessean reported then. Part of the attack was captured on surveillance video.
“Try to shoot me, I’ll break every bone in your f—–g neck,” a man’s voice is heard shouting. You f—–g n—-r.”
Halliburton, who described the intruder as “heavily intoxicated and disoriented,” said the incident left her family, especially her two preteen boys, traumatized.
“I’m working on no sleep,” she said at the time. “I have nightmares. My kids are having nightmares.”
The victim’s attorney, Daniel Horwitz, said he believes Reynolds should be fired from the NYPD for his misconduct. The officer was initially placed on suspension, but a department spokesman told ABC 7 that Reynolds is now on “modified duty” and that the case is still under review.
Reynold’s lawyer, Justin Adams, declined questions after Thursday’s plea.
The office is due back in court Nov. 7 for sentencing.
