In Buffalo, New York, two police officers who knocked down a 75-year-old protester during a protest against the murder of George Floyd in 2020 are set to return to work after they were acquitted by a crime referee, Buffalo News and the Associated Reported by the press.
Referee Jeffrey Selcick concluded Friday that officers Robert McCabe and Aaron Torgalski were fully acquitted of expelling Martin Gujino on a day of protest in New York City near Buffalo City Hall.
According to the Buffalo News, the arbitration award only covers allegations of misuse and use of force by the Buffalo Police Department, which resulted in the disruption of the department.
One witness was shot by the confrontation between Gugino, who was alone, and a large group of officers as they marched on the sidewalk during a protest on June 4, 2020.
The short video, which immediately went viral, shows Gugino approaching the two agents and standing in front of them, holding a phone in one hand and a helmet in the other.
Agents pushed Gugino and continued to advance, Gugino turned around and fell on his back, hitting his head on the concrete pavement. When Gugino lay down and bled on the floor, many officers continued to advance.
Selcik said the two officers were justified in using this level of force because Gugino refused to follow the officers’ orders, the Associated Press reported.
Warning: the video below contains graphic content.
This is Gugino In the hospital For a month with a fractured skull and brain damage.
Selcik blamed Gugino for losing his balance because he was holding back things, his age or was surprised that agents pushed him, the Buffalo News reported.
“After the analysis, there is no evidence to support any indication that the respondents (police officers) had any effective option other than to mislead Gugino,” Selcik wrote. News of the buffalo.
Selcik also said the officers’ actions “do not show their intention to do more than take Gugino away from them.”
Attorney Melissa Wiserat, who represents Gujino, told Hoax news that her team is “unaware of any case in which this referee has made a decision against police officers on duty.”
He added: “So his decision here on behalf of the police is not only expected of us, but he clearly expects the union and the city to choose and pay for him.”
Gujino now has a federal lawsuit filed against the Buffalo Police Department for his injuries.
Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said he would.Recover Both officers were on duty on Monday.
Buffalo Police did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment.
Police used excessive force against protesters in the summer of 2020, when demonstrations and civil unrest began across the country over the killings of Braona Taylor and George Floyd.
Police SUVs at a protest in Detroit in June 2020. Passed through most of the protesters. In New York, police officers insulted protesters, one officer pushed a woman and followed one sternly, and another addressed the protesters at a very fast pace.
Source: Huffpost
