A deranged man sucker-punched an NYPD cop in Brooklyn, then pinned him to the ground until several officers showed up to break up the fight, body camera footage obtained by the Daily News shows.
The video, taken Thursday afternoon outside of a Bank of America near the corner of Court and Livingston Sts. in Downtown Brooklyn, shows 40-year-old Steven Haynes walloping a uniformed cop in the face.
As the two struggle, Haynes wrestles the cop to the ground and jumps on top of him. Seconds later, the cop’s partner calls for backup, then runs up with a retractable baton in her hand, the video shows.
“Listen … listen, get off of him! Get off of him!” the cop says as she grabs onto the back of Haynes’ jacket. “Alright sir, get off. Mister … Mister come on.”
As the struggle continues, the cop with the baton whacks Haynes on the back several times, but the blows do little to stop the attack. Several other officers soon arrive and take Haynes into custody, the video shows.
Cops charged Haynes with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and obstructing government administration. He was also given disorderly conduct violations for obstructing traffic, refusing to disperse and having carrying an open alcoholic beverage, police said.
Haynes was released under supervision at his arraignment Friday.
Some officers were outraged that the female cop wearing the body camera didn’t do more to protect her partner.
“This is one of the worst things I have seen in a while,” said one cop who wished not to be named. “She had every right to do something if her partner was in danger, but she did next to nothing. There has to be an investigation at least,” the cop said.
“How did she even become a cop?” another officer asked. “She needs to be taken off the streets immediately.
“The goal every day is to make sure that you and your partner return home safe,” the officer said. “She clearly failed to do that.”
The NYPD said the matter was “under internal review.”
Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said Thursday’s attack is a sign that the streets aren’t as safe as City Hall claims.
“When will our elected leaders admit that the streets are out of control?” Lynch said. “The perps know they can sucker punch a cop and escape with no consequences. And cops know that City Hall will not back them up.
“The situation is getting more dangerous by the day,” Lynch said.
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