Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Cop Threatens To Break Photographer's Jaw During Occupy Protest
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 16, 2013
Modified Sep 16, 2013
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 .
Paul Sullivan
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 16, 2013
Modified Sep 16, 2013
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
Last September, photographer Paul Sullivan followed along with Occupy Wall Street protesters as they marched through the financial district on the occupation's first anniversary. His short film, "10 Arrests in 87 Minutes: The Anatomy of the NYPD’s Protest Dispersal Process," probably won't surprise anyone who observed the NYPD's tactics when policing Occupy protesters, but it's still a well-documented, hip-level look at the department's enforcement of OWS. And it turns out that the tenth arrest [SPOILER?] captured here is Sullivan himself:
Sullivan's camera is pointed at his belt as he's taken into custody, but the audio clearly captures an officer threatening Sulliivan, whose face was pressed against another officer's shoulder as he was collared. "Don't put your mouth near him, 'cause I swear to God I will break your jaw," the voice declares. "I will break your jaw if you bite him. And somebody will kill you."
Another highlight of the ten minute video comes at the 4:40 mark when a protester in a taxi holds up signs of solidarity with the protesters as her cab is blocked by the demonstrators. And former NYPD spokesman Paul Browne also gets his close-up at the seven minute mark.
All told, more than 185 people were arrested last September 17th, and many of the seemingly arbitrary arrests were in keeping with the NYPD's overall handling of the Occupy movement, which critics say is intended to stifle dissent—there's an obvious chilling effect on activism if attending a protest means you may have to spend over 24 hours in the Tombs for committing no crime. We saw this arbitrary arrest tactic used most vividly at a nearly-deserted Zuccotti Park in February of last year.
More actions are planned to commemorate the second anniversary tomorrow, so stay tuned for more random arrests. [Via Boing Boing]
Tagged
nypd
occupy wall street
protests
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.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
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 .