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Why Did Cops Release Man Who Says They Sodomized Him?
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 29, 2008
Modified Oct 29, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 29, 2008
Modified Oct 29, 2008
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The Brooklyn man who says police sodomized him with a radio antenna after he resisted arrest at a subway station is still in the hospital, and subpoenas have been issued to six witnesses who support his claims, including bystanders, friends and a roommate who took him to the hospital after the incident. Two witnesses believed to support the NYPD's sodomy denial—a token clerk and his 12-year-old son—have also been subpoenaed, the Daily News reports. Earlier this week, a special grand jury was convened to look into the explosive allegations.
Lawyers for the victim, Michael Mineo, have yet to release his medical records, but they've been busy arguing their case in the court of public opinion. They're questioning why police let Mineo go with just a summons after he resisted arrest and forced cops to chase him. Police sources tell Newsday that the disorderly conduct summons has mistakes, and states that officers identified him by his New York State public assistance benefits card. But according to some accounts, Mineo was not carrying I.D. If that was the case, NYPD guidelines would have required the officers to arrest him.
And if the accused officers had run his I.D. through the system, they would have found two warrants out for his arrest: one for failing to appear in court after being ticketed for drinking alcohol from an open container, another involving a stolen credit card case from 2003. One of Mineo's lawyers, Stephen Jackson, asks the Daily News, "Why wasn't he charged with resisting arrest or assault on a police officer? The likely reason is because they simply wanted the whole thing to go away."
Tagged
abner louima
cop sodomy
cop sodomy claim
michael mineo
nypd
prospect park station
subway
subway sodomy
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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