New York

Jersey City Mayor Calls for Officers to Be Fired, Charged After Prosecutors Say Video Shows Them Kicking Burning Bystander After Chase

What to Know

  • Video shows an innocent bystander being beaten by Jersey City officers moments after he was on fire, prosecutors say
  • The family of Miguel Feliz told News 4 that he has severe burns and fractured ribs
  • A union representing Jersey City police said the officers were trying to put out the flames and pull the man to safety

The mayor of Jersey City is calling for police officers and their supervisors to be fired and charged after prosecutors said a video shows them kicking a burning bystander caught up in a chase and fiery crash.

The man seen on video being kicked by officers on Sunday night turned out to be 28-year-old Miguel Feliz, a bystander who suffered burns in the crash, not the driver that police officers were pursuing, the Hudson County prosecutor's office said Wednesday.

On Thursday, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop responded to a police union that represents the city’s officers, calling their statement claiming the officers were trying to put out the flames “ridiculous.”

The Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association said in a statement Wednesday that, “Taking swift action isn't always elegant, but this video clearly shows that the officers acted quickly to extinguish the flames, and pull this man out of harm's way.”

Fulop said Thursday, “The fact that they say they were assisting putting out the fire -- I think any reasonable person that looks at that video would say those did not look like helpful hands.”

Fulop says the officers not only handled the crash wrong, but also the preceding six-mile chase in which officers opened fire from their police car.

“You should not be firing a weapon from a moving vehicle -- this isn’t the movies,” Fulop said.

Feliz has a long road to recovery before he can spend time with his family and 6-year-old son. He was in stable condition at St. Barnabas Medical Center on Thursday after undergoing five hours of surgery for burns, his family said.

Angeanette Munoz said it has distressed her son to have to see his father in the hospital.

“He was expecting him to be at his kindergarten graduation, so this is very hurtful,” Munoz said.

Feliz’s family told News 4 New York that he has severe burns on his arms and fractured ribs. 

“Thirty percent of his body’s burned up,” Feliz’s brother, Ramon, said.

Ramon Feliz said he initially thought police were helping his brother out of the burning vehicle, but then he saw the video.

“When the video came out, the truth came out,” Feliz said.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet said why police were chasing 48-year-old Leo Pinkston on Sunday night, but Pinkston is facing several charges related to the chase and crash, including eluding and aggravated assault.

Prosecutors have also not released the names of the officers or said if they are still on duty.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez called the investigation ongoing on Thursday and said in a statement, “I am asking the community to withhold judgment until the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor concludes its investigation.”

Suarez said investigators are conducting a review of multiple crash investigations involving more than five vehicles and reviewing more than 15 videos containing several hours of evidence. They are also interviewing 20 witnesses and conducting a ballistics investigation of multiple shootings, Suarez said.

“We will consider this evidence in its entirety as we investigate the actions of all individuals who were involved with the events of Sunday night in Jersey City and we are asking for patience from the public,” Suarez said in the statement.

Authorities say that shortly after 11 p.m. on Sunday, officers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Pinkston near Ocean and Cator avenues, when he took off.

Officers pursued Pinkston, who got into two separate crashes during the chase, authorities said. The first crash happened as he was driving between two lanes of traffic on Tonnelle Avenue. The second crash took place several blocks away, when Pinkston crashed into a utility pole.

Feliz was driving to work when he was hit by Pinkston’s vehicle in the second crash, according to prosecutors and family. The fiery crash left Feliz with burns and he was taken to the burn center at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. 

The man who recorded the encounter on video, Eric Roberto, told News 4 he witnessed the officers kicking the injured man and dragging him into the street.

"They didn't help him, they just started kicking him and grabbing him," Roberto said. "I don't think they treated him the right way, and that's not how you treat any human in this world."

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