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Man Sues Off-Duty Cop Who Allegedly Beat Him, Called Him A 'Terrorist'
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Dec 24, 2013
Modified Dec 24, 2013
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By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Dec 24, 2013
Modified Dec 24, 2013
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A Queens man is suing an NYPD officer, alleging that the cop, who was off-duty at the time, beat him and called him a "terrorist."
According to court documents obtained by The Post, 57-year-old Gamal Abdelaziz was waiting for his wife outside of a supermarket in Fresh Meadows in September of 2012, when he got into a confrontation with off-duty officer Milko Mejia in the supermarket parking lot. Mejia allegedly got out of his car after Abdelaziz cursed at the driver for honking at him. Mejia then came towards Abdelaziz, telling him he was a cop.
Abdelaziz's lawsuit claims he told the off-duty officer that his “badge didn’t give him the right to curse at plaintiff," before Mejia “brutally kicked [him] in the testicles, and then repeatedly struck plaintiff in the face, causing plaintiff to fall to the ground, where the beating continued."
Abdelaziz was then arrested for "arguing with a sergeant." He is now suing the officer for civil rights violations.
Tagged
Disputes
hate crime
lawsuits
nypd
violence
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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