NYPD Detectives Placed on Modified Duty After Arrest Video Surfaces

The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office has stated it will dismiss the charges filed against the man, who was not the suspect the officers were seeking.

Two NYPD narcotics detectives have been placed on modified duty and are under internal investigation following the circulation of a video showing their physical interaction with a man during an arrest at a Brooklyn liquor store.

Incident Overview

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon inside a liquor store at the intersection of Hoyt and Baltic streets in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. The NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the video, which was recorded by a witness.

Video and Witness Account

According to witness Abelee Moran, the two undercover officers did not identify themselves as police or inform the man he was under arrest before physical contact began. Moran reported hearing the man say, "Wait. What's going on?" before starting to record.

The video shows the following sequence of events:

• The man collides with a shelf of wine bottles during the encounter.
• The officers are seen throwing punches.
• One officer is seen kicking the man.
• Moran stated that after the man was handcuffed, an officer wearing a hat continued to punch him and pressed a knee against the man's face.

NYPD Account and Investigation Status

The NYPD provided the following information regarding the officers' actions:

• The undercover detectives stated they had witnessed a narcotics purchase involving crack cocaine.
• They approached a man matching a suspect's description, noted as wearing a turquoise hat, white shirt, and green shorts.
• The department stated the officers had detained the wrong individual.
• A search of the man found no drugs.

Administrative and Legal Actions:

• The man was issued a desk appearance ticket for resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.
• The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office stated it will be dismissing these charges.
• Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the video as "upsetting" and confirmed it is part of an investigation into the arrest.
• The two officers have been placed on modified duty, and their guns and shields have been removed.

Official and Organizational Statements

New York City Government:

Mayor Mamdani, in a social media post, called the video "extremely disturbing and unacceptable" and stated, "Officers should never treat a person this way." He confirmed the NYPD is conducting a full investigation.

Community and Police Union Response:

• Hawk Newsome with Black Lives Matter NY held a press conference outside the liquor store. Newsome stated the video showed officers "beating a man" and said, "I feel like everybody saw everybody beating a man like it's the 1950s and 1960s, in 2026 these police officers should be under control."
• Detectives Endowment Association President Scott Munro said he wants the facts established before judgment is made. Munro stated, "NYPD detectives put their lives on the line daily... Narcotics detectives arrest you and tell you to put your hands behind your back and don't comply, what do you think happens?"

The Internal Affairs investigation is ongoing.