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Video: Cop Uses Chokehold, Pepper Spray To Take Down Skateboarder In Columbus Circle
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 27, 2015
Modified Oct 27, 2015
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 27, 2015
Modified Oct 27, 2015
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A Queens man skateboarding in Columbus Circle on Sunday evening was arrested by an NYPD officer who appeared to use a chokehold to subdue him. The skateboarder, Yibin Mu, published video showing the arrest on YouTube yesterday:
According to Mu's account on YouTube, "Without warning, the police officer used one hand to grab my forearm and the other hand to grab the back of my neck. He then put me in a chokehold and this is what happened next. I was non-aggressive the entire time."
An NYPD spokesman confirmed that Mu, 22, was arrested on October 25th for skateboarding in Columbus Circle, which is prohibited. (Mu and his skateboard are no strangers to the location, according to this YouTube video from 2014.) The spokesman, Detective Brian Sessa, said six signs posted in the area make it clear that skateboarding is prohibited.
According to the NYPD, the arresting officer asked Mu to sit down so he could write a summons. Detective Sessa said that according to the officer's arrest report, Mu "refused to sit down and ignored him. The officer informed him that he was placing him under arrest, and attempted to take him into custody, and the defendant fought with the officer."
No injuries were noted on the arrest report, despite video showing the arresting officer using pepper spray on Mu. He was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, failure to comply with a posted sign, and defacing park property.
The use of chokeholds is generally prohibited by the NYPD's patrol guide, and following the chokehold death of Eric Garner on Staten Island, some City Councilmembers sought legislation that would explicitly make chokeholds illegal, and expand the department's definition of "use of force."
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton opposes the City Council's proposed legislation, and said at a hearing in June, "We evaluate all uses of force, including chokeholds...and while there is a general prohibition [on chokeholds], we take into account what the officer was facing at the time."
Mu did not immediately respond to a request for comment; check back for an update later.
With Christopher Robbins.
Tagged
chokeholds
columbus circle
nypd
police brutality
skateboarders
skateboarding
original
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
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