A Bronx assemblyman says he was handled roughly by a police officer when he tried to defuse an argument between officers and residents at a family event in the community he represents.
Assemblyman Michael Blake says he tried to calm a heated situation at the Morris Houses complex Saturday after observing a woman in handcuffs and another woman and man arguing with an officer.
The Democrat said he ran toward the scenario because "I am an elected official in that area" and he wanted to help.
"What then occurred was an absolute injustice -- within 2 seconds I was immediately being grabbed, bear-hugged," Blake said at a news conference Monday.
Blake, who filed an excessive force complaint, said another officer who recognized him stepped in and told the other cop to let him go.
He said he asked, "Why was I grabbed, why was I tossed toward the gate for doing absolutely nothing wrong?" and was told the officer had perceived a possible threat to his partner. The NYPD said the officer has apologized, and that it would conduct a review of the allegations.
"It is completely inhumane and the reality is it happens every single day," Blake said.
