Queens leaders want cop cuffed for allegedly
choking man during Rockaway Boardwalk arrest
BY JACOB KAYE
Community leaders gathered
in front of Queens Borough
Hall Monday afternoon to
call for the arrest of NYPD Officer
David Afanador, who was
recorded in a now-viral video
wrapping his arm around the
neck of an unarmed Black
man during an arrest on the
Rockaway Boardwalk on Sunday
.L
ed by Reverend Kevin Mc-
Call, the demonstrators called
on District Attorney Melinda
Katz to prosecute Afanador —
who has been suspended without
pay — for his alleged use
of the newly illegal chokehold
maneuver. Speakers included
Sanford Rubenstein, a civil
rights attorney; Chris Banks,
a community activist; Terrence
Floyd, the brother of the
late George Floyd; and McCall,
who gave Katz until Friday to
take action.
New York state recently
banned police officers from
using the chokehold while
making an arrest. The tactic
has led the death of people in
police custody, including Eric
Garner in 2014. Afanador, who
has been suspended from the
force without pay, appeared
to use the maneuver on Ricky
Bellevue during the Sunday
morning arrest.
“We have faith in this district
attorney’s office,” McCall
said. “We’re calling for her to
do the right thing and move
swiftly and arrest officer David
immediately.”
Under the new police reforms
signed into law earlier
this month, the use of
the chokehold is considered a
felony.
“So why are we here?” Mc-
Call said from the steps of Borough
Hall.
Less than 12 hours after
Bellevue’s arrest, the NYPD
released body cam footage
from one of the officers involved
in the incident.
While the initial investigation
into the arrest led to Afanador’s
suspension, the full
investigation is ongoing.
“Accountability in policing
is essential. After a swift
investigation by the Internal
Affairs Bureau, a police officer
involved in a disturbing
apparent chokehold incident
in Queens has been suspended
without pay,” Police Commissioner
Dermot Shea said on
Sunday. “While a full investigation
is still underway, there
is no question in my mind that
this immediate action is necessary.
We are committed to
transparency as this process
continues.”
Lawmakers who have
fought for police reforms and
a reduction of the NYPD’s $6
billion budget, were swift to
TIMESLEDGER |18 QNS.COM | JUNE 26-JULY 2, 2020
condemn Afanador’s actions
following the viral video.
“I’m disturbed to see another
NYPD officer use an illegal
chokehold to hold someone
down,” said Congresswoman
Grace Meng. “It was right to
suspend the officer and open
an investigation but this must
be done in a transparent way
and include the officer’s history.
Excessive force is unacceptable
and must be condemned.
After many weeks of
cries for justice, we must continue
to address the systemic
issues that affect equality and
justice. I believe federal action
is necessary which is why I
strongly support the Justice
in Policing Act and Congressman
Jeffries’ bill — both bills
that would ban chokeholds.”
In a joint statement, Congressman
Gregory Meeks and
Councilman Donovan Richards
called the arrest “excessive
and life threatening.”
“The horrifying encounter
captures exactly the behavior
that we have marched into
streets these recent weeks to
reform,” the lawmakers said.
“Though this man did not die
during the encounter, he very
well could have died as a result
of the officer restricting
his airflow. Law enforcement
does not have the right to deny
someone the ability to breathe.
It is dangerous and, as we’ve
too often seen, lethal use of
force.”
For nearly a month, demonstrators
around the world
and in Queens have marched
for justice for Floyd, Breonna
Taylor and countless other
Black people who have died or
suffered violence at the hand
of the police.
Additional reporting by
Dean Moses.
Photo by Dean Moses
Screenshot via NYPD
/QNS.COM
