Once again, surveillance video has captured footage of New York police officers abusing a young Black male with very little provocation.
The two officers from the 79th Precinct in Brooklyn are now under criminal investigation by the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau and Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson after surveillance footage showed them punching and bashing a 16-year-old suspect in the face with a gun despite the teen raising his hands to surrender.
The video, obtained by DNAinfo New York, reveals the two officers catching up to Kahreem Tribble after a brief chase in Bedford-Stuyvesant, and as Tribble stops running, one officer throws a punch at his face. As Tribble raises his hands, the other officer smashes him in the face with his gun, cracking his teeth.
“What’s depicted on this video is troubling and warrants a thorough investigation,” Thompson told DNAinfo.
It all started when three officers spotted Tribble at 2:20 a.m. Aug. 29 looking into the window of a minivan parked on St. John’s Place in Bedford-Stuyvesant, according to court records, law enforcement sources and the video. As they got out of their car to approach the 6-foot-2 teen, he allegedly tossed away a small black canvas bag and began running. As the officers ran after him, one with his gun drawn, sources told DNAinfo they were concerned the teen had a weapon.
When Tribble slows down, apparently ready to surrender, Officer Tyrane Isaac rushed up and swung at Tribble’s head. Tribble ducks the punch and can be seen on the video retreating with his hands up to a storefront gate. Officer David Afanador catches up, rushes straight to Tribble and hits him in the face with his gun, breaking a front tooth and chipping another.
Afanador can be seen holstering his weapon and going back to get the canvas bag while Isaac puts cuffs on Tribble. But before he puts on the cuffs, Isaac punches Tribble again and pushes him onto his stomach.
Afanador then waves the bag in front of Tribble’s face before smacking him with it.
Police Commissioner William Bratton is angered and embarrassed by the video, a source told DNAinfo.
Afanador has been suspended without pay while Isaac was placed on modified duty and stripped of his badge and gun. Both officers are nine-year veterans.
Tribble was arrested for possessing 17 small bags of marijuana and disorderly conduct. He pleaded guilty to a violation at his arraignment and was released with cracked teeth and bruises.
The officers both have two other cases lodged against them by defendants alleging false arrest or being victims of excessive force, according to court records.
Patrick Lynch, the police union president, told DNAinfo the tape does not tell the entire tale — a claim he has made in other instances when video showed officers abusing civilians.
“As usual, the video fails to capture the offense that resulted in police action or the lengthy foot pursuit that culminated in the arrest,” he said. “Situations like this one happen in real time under great stress. It’s very easy to be judgmental in the comfort of an office while sitting in front of a video screen.”
Tribble’s lawyer, Amy Rameau, told On the Inside that her client was heading home from a friend’s apartment when the officers chased him.
“My client was minding his own business and they decided to chase him for no reason,” she said. “Their account is concocted to justify what they did, to cover their asses, to legitimize their criminal conduct.”
She said she will file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the NYPD and the officers.
