Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Cop Stripped Of Gun, Badge After Video Shows Him Pointing Gun At & Punching Bystanders
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published May 21, 2016
Modified May 21, 2016
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 .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published May 21, 2016
Modified May 21, 2016
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
An NYPD officer lost his gun and badge yesterday after video surfaced showing him pulling that gun on bystanders in Harlem, and later punching a 19-year-old who filmed him with his cellphone camera.
The officer, who has not yet been identified, was apparently chasing an illegal dirt biker into a housing project with other officers in Harlem on Thursday evening, and while he was making an arrest he pulled his gun. "I thought he was going to shoot," said Ronnie Pinkerton Jr., who witnessed the incident, told NBC News. "First thing I thought, he was going to shoot."
Later in the video, the officer approaches 19-year-old Jahnico Harvey, who is filming him, and punches him; Harvey was arrested and charged with menacing and disorderly conduct. You can see the pair of incidents in the video below:
"For him to just get punched in the mouth, corralled and apprehended like he's a piece of cattle of some sort, in a rodeo, just makes absolutely no sense," state assemblyman Keith Wright told NBC News.
The dirt biker, Dayshawn Bettway, 21, was arrested and charged with assault, reckless endangerment, obstruction of government administration and resisting arrest. Calvin West, who filmed the initial arrest, told NY1 that cops were attacking Bettway. "Put his hands up, 'I don't want no problems.' Cop punched in his face about three or four times, slammed him on his head," West said. "That's when I got the camera out."
West also said the cop told him, "Get out of here. I’m not playing with you all. I’ll shoot.”
The officer has been placed on modified duty while the Internal Affairs Bureau investigates the incident.
Tagged
arrest
bad cop
harlem
nypd
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Bronx community hosts vigil for boy killed in e-bike fire
Zion Maine died Wednesday after a lithium-ion battery ignited, killing him and injuring four members of his family.
By
Carol Chen
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 9:22 p.m. ET
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
8 people charged in $7M SNAP benefit fraud scheme
The scam impacted thousands of people, according to the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
By
Giulia Heyward
California man was shot by a NJ detective in Moonachie, officials say
By
Kaya Laterman
The NYPD is confiscating e-bikes along a clogged East Village street
By
Willow Higgins
New Yorkers enrolled in SNAP will get more money for fresh produce next year
By
Giulia Heyward
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 .