Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cop Caught Catching Some Zs
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 10, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 10, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Just a month after a Columbia grad student was hassled by the NYPD for photographing subways for a school project, another young man armed with camera has been taken down by the long arm of the law.
The NY Post is reporting that "a Brooklyn teen says he was busted and beaten for taking a picture of a uniformed cop while he was asleep." Tyshawn McDonald, 18, took this photo in a laundromat on New Year's Day, and really, who isn't a little sleepy that day? This all went down in Brownsville, and the teen, after refusing to give up his camera, was handcuffed and attacked, resulting in a broken nose. The accuracy of that story is being questioned, however.
In one corner there's community activist Paul Washington saying the act was a "civic duty," because not only was the cop catching some z's on the job, but his gun was also dangling unattended. In the other corner is the NYPD, claiming it's all lies! They claim the arrest was made after McDonald (who has a prior arrest record) taunted the officer...who then fell asleep? When more cops came to the scene, they claim McDonald punched one of them, which resulted in this whole ordeal. The incident is being investigated, and yesterday protesters rallied for the teen.
Tagged
brooklyn
new year
new years
ny post
nypd
photography
sleeping cop
washington
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Inside the luxury Greenpoint high-rise powered by a rumbling generator for over a month
The fallout from an electrical fire, among other safety and maintenance concerns, has sparked anger inside the 40-story tower known as The Greenpoint.
By
David Brand
Published Oct 12, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
The announcement comes as Mamdani faces mounting criticism from the left for his approach to policing.
By
Michael Sol Warren
News
Mayor Mamdani orders review of NYPD use of force policies
The announcement comes as Mamdani faces mounting criticism from the left for his approach to policing.
By
Michael Sol Warren
Company that won $23M NYPD building contract was investigated by LI watchdog
By
Ben Feuerherd
Plainclothes ICE agent with long gun looked like mass shooter, Mayor Mamdani says
By
Michael Sol Warren
NJ Transit riders face 5 weeks of schedule disruptions starting Sunday
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .