Photo by Giacomo Barbaro/Flickr
VICE News is closely monitoring policing in America. Check out the Officer Involved blog here.A New York police officer has been indicted on assault and official misconduct charges after he stomped on a man's head and pointed a gun in his face during a marijuana-related arrest.The incident occurred last July when officers moved to arrest 32-year-old Jahmil-El Cuffee, who was reportedly rolling a joint in the driveway of a Brooklyn home, according to DNA Info.Witnesses captured video of the episode, which shows NYPD officer Joel Edouard, 36, and another officer wrestling Cuffee to the ground. At one point, Edouard pulls a gun and aims it at the suspect's head while he is writhing under the weight of the two policemen.More officers arrive at the scene and attempt to handcuff Cuffee while some onlookers try to intervene and someone films the scene. Edouard walks away from the suspect at one point, but comes back to the scuffle and stomps on Cuffee's head."I just watched them stomp on that man's head. And you had him on the floor already," the man recording the incident can be heard saying.After the arrest, Cuffee was taken to a local hospital for treatment of injuries to his head and neck. He was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and pot possession. Charges against him were later dropped.Edouard was placed on desk duty and later indicted after an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation. He is expected to report to the Brooklyn district attorney's office Tuesday morning.Photo via Flickr
Advertisement