A Queens teen got a brutal beatdown by a group of NYPD police officers during a stop outside the Flushing YMCA, dramatic video released today shows.
The Jan. 8 attack — which was captured on a witness’ cell phone — begins about 12:38 p.m. with two cops fighting to restrain Queens resident Robert Jackson, 19, on the ground while yelling “put your hands behind your head.”
I can’t, I can’t, please stop,” Jackson pleads, crying, as the number of cops kicking and punching — and at one point scraping his face against the asphalt — increases to seven officers.
Meanwhile, shocked bystanders are heard shouting, “Why are they hitting him?” and “They’re actually jumping him!”
Cops managed to arrest Jackson and charged him with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct.
He was mouthing “profanity threats” against one of the cops prior to the incident, court records show.
But Jackson’s lawyer, Jacques Leandre, said he wants the charges to be dismissed because his client is “an innocent victim of police brutality.”
“Its unfortunate that this could happen to somebody like me when cops are supposed to be protecting us,” said Jackson, whose badly-bruised face is still scarred from the incident.
Jackson has four prior arrests, including an Aug. 2012 arrest for criminal possession of a weapon, police sources said. Three of his arrests are sealed.
Police yesterday said the incident has been referred to the city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board.