The NYPD is under fire after video footage captured a group of officers tearing a child away from his mother’s arms at a Brooklyn food-assistance center on Friday, sparking anger in the horrified on-looking crowd.
The New York Post identified the mother as 23-year-old Jazmine Headley. The report notes that Headley was sitting on the floor at a SNAP center in Boerum Hill when an officer attempted to take her one-year-old son away from her, dragging the mother along the floor as she clung to her child. Soon, other officers joined the fray, trying to separate the two, tugging at the child.
Video posted to Facebook captured the scene as onlookers shouted and cursed at the multitude of officers surrounding the mother.
“Oh my God, oh my God, look what they’re doing to her, look what they’re doing to her,” one person could be heard commenting.
“There’s a f–king baby in her hands!” someone else screams.
“They’re hurting my son!” Headley screams as she tries to hold on to the child.
https://www.facebook.com/nyashia.ferguson/videos/vb.100001275527374/2165023130216850/?type=2&video_source=user_video_tab
At one point, an officer draws her Taser and points it at the surrounding crowd who attempted to verbally defend Headley.
At another point in the video, Headley could be heard pleading with officers, “I’m begging you please.”
“There Wasn’t Any More Chairs For This Lady To Sit Down So She Sat In The Corner On The Floor. The Security Guard Came Over Said What Ever She Said To Her & She Made The Security Guard Feel Dumb So She Called The Cops On Her & This Was The Outcome SMH Mind You She Had Her Baby In Her Hands The Whole Time,” Monae Sinclair, who posted the video, wrote in her caption.
According to the
Post, the NYPD is investigating the encounter. Police say cops were called to the center on Friday after Human Resources Administration could not remove a person who they claimed was being “disorderly” and blocking the hallway.
Officers attempted to get Headley to leave, but she didn’t.
“HRA peace officers brought the woman to the floor,” the police said.
Meanwhile, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson took to the Twitter, calling the incident “unacceptable, appalling and heartbreaking.”
“I’d like to understand what transpired and how these officers or the NYPD justifies this,” he tweeted.”
