NYC cop brutally beats bystander and kneels on his neck over social distancing

An NYPD police officer was filmed beating Donni Wright in clip that has since sparked outrage at the officer’s behavior. (Picture: Facebook/Daquan Owens)

A New York City police officer enforcing social distancing guidelines was filmed brutally beating a bystander and kneeling on his neck.

The violent altercation caught on camera by Daquan Owens led to the arrest of three people in the city’s East Village on Saturday. Owens said the incident began after undercover officers approached a couple talking outside of a deli and demanded they separate, although Owens said they were maintaining the six-foot distance recommended by health officials.

As police tried to handcuff the couple, identified as 31-year-old Shakiem Brunson and 22-year-old Ashley Serrano, one of the officers can be seen pointing a taser at the bystander, 33-year-old Donni Wright. The officer can be heard calling Wright a racial slur before slamming him to the ground, punching him and kneeling on his neck.

‘They were social distancing,’ Owens told Gothamist, referring to Brunson and Serrano.

‘The girl was standing by the phone booth, the guy was sitting on a milk crate. When the cops pulled up she said he’s not doing anything. They grabbed her and started tussling with her. Then the guy on the milk crate got mad and started yelling at police.’

This pig got to go

Geplaatst door Daquan Owens op Zaterdag 2 mei 2020

‘Donni wasn’t being aggressive, he was just talking. He never raised his hands or hit him. Cop just took it upon himself to start beating him. I was standing right next to him. I could hear everything,’ Owens continued.

NYPD spokesperson Sergeant Mary O’Donnell responded to the incident in a statement, saying ‘a group was observed…in violation with social distancing orders.’ The statement went on to say that when the officers approached the group, ‘they observed a bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.’

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O’Donnell said Wright ‘took a fighting stance against the officer,’ although the footage shows Wright’s hands at his sides, although he can be seen making a fist with his right hand. Another video taken from a different angle appears to show the officer approaching Wright without any provocation, but it is unclear what ultimately led to Wright’s arrest.

Before anyone has something to say about the video I posted in defense of the cop saying that he’s doing his job or that the guy was wrong here is another angle. The officer walked up to him and before that he and his partners grabbed up a male and female for sitting on their front steps talking. No one broke the law, it was all because in their eyes, they weren’t SOCIAL DISTANCING. In the name of social distancing the @NYPD then put their hands and breath and bodies all over people, beat them up, handcuffed, arrested them and sent them to jail where social distancing is impossible. 😡😡😡 All while other people ( I’m not gonna name any COLORS but y’all already know ) gathered together outside ALL OVER NEW YORK yesterday. Please share before this video get taken down!

Geplaatst door Tamika Maria op Zondag 3 mei 2020

Wright has since been charged with assaulting an officer, menacing, recisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct.

‘He doesn’t have a criminal record. He was going to the store after work, and the officer punched him to the floor,’ Wright’s mother, Donna, said.

The clip has since been viewed over 74,000 times, sparking calls for an investigation into the officer’s actions.

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