Yonkers cop caught on video punching suspect in face

A Yonkers police officer who punched a defenseless suspect in the face during his arrest was charged Monday with assault.

Detective Sergeant Hector Cartagena, 55, pleaded not guilty to second-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault and third-degree assault during his arraignment in county court from Westchester.

Bodycam video captured Cartagena crying over the suspect following a March 14 car chase in Yonkers. Prosecutors said he kicked the unnamed man four times and punched the unnamed man 10 times in the face.

“The actions of this police supervisor are indefensible. This is the definition of disrespect for the badge and we condemn it,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in a statement.

On March 14, Yonkers police officers located a stolen vehicle and pursued the suspect who was driving it through city streets, the department said in a news release. According to police, the suspect “caused multiple collisions with police vehicles, injured several officers, drove recklessly and endangered the public.”

The pursuit ended in a crash at an intersection, police said. Bodycam video shows officers pulling the man out of the car and tackling him to the ground.

As two officers held the man’s hands behind his back and shocked him with a Taser, video showed Cartagena kicking the suspect several times in the face. He then kneels down at the suspect’s level, raises his head and punches him numerous times in the face.

Yonkers police leaders said they quickly referred the case to the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which investigated and filed charges against Cartagena.

“Rather than filing these wrongful lawsuits, the city and county should have supported this highly decorated officer who served the community flawlessly for 25 years,” Cartagena attorney Chad Seigel told the Associated Press .

Cartagena, a 24-year veteran, was suspended without pay. He is due back in court on July 31.

With news feed services