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[UPDATE] Video: Police Beat Man Resisting Arrest In Crown Heights Synagogue
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 15, 2012
Modified Oct 16, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 15, 2012
Modified Oct 16, 2012
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[UPDATE BELOW] A man who was sleeping at a synagogue and outreach center for troubled youth in Crown Heights was beaten by police Monday night after he resisted arrest. CrownHeights.info obtained surveillance video from the center's rec room, where the homeless man, Ehud H. Halevi, was awakened by police on the night of October 8th. Halevi insisted that he had permission to stay at the center, but he says officers refused to let him prove it, and video shows an officer beating Halevi when he tries to resist arrest. Here's the silent video:
Multiple sources tell CrownHeights.info that Halevi did in fact have permission to stay there—and that he had been sleeping at ALIYA (Alternative Learning Institute for Young Adults) for a month. However, it appears that a volunteer security guard was not apprised of this arrangement, and called police when he found a shirtless Halevi asleep in the lounge.
The security guard, Zlamy Trappler, 24, can be seen arguing with Halevi at the 30 second mark. He now tells the Daily News, "I regret making the call. I should have let him sleep. It spiraled out of control."
Halevi, who was also pepper sprayed during the arrest, was charged with assaulting a police officer, trespassing, resisting arrest and harassment. He's currently out on bail and faces up to five years in prison for assaulting an officer. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the video.
Update 5:51 p.m.: The NYPD says Internal Affairs is investigating the incident, and unidentified officer administering the beating has been placed on modified duty. In addition, NBC New York reports that the incident has been referred to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and the Brooklyn DA is also investigating.
Tagged
brooklyn
Crown Heights
nypd
police brutality
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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