Overzealous New York cop who was caught on video punching and kicking a black man has been charged with assault

A Yonkers police officer who was alleged to uphold the law was recently charged with breaking the law.

According to a report by Fox 5 New York, Sgt. Hector Cartagena, 55, was arrested on Monday, June 17, for assault after using excessive force against a fleeing suspect in March.

The investigation revealed that Cartagena was chasing a suspect who had stolen a automotive on March 14 around 9:44 p.m., when the automotive driven by the suspect hit a wall and officers removed him from the vehicle.

Body camera footage shows the suspect, whose identity has not been released, being knocked to the bottom by several officers and shocked with a Taser. While lying on the bottom with his hands behind his back, the suspect is repeatedly punched and kicked by Cartagena, leading to the suspect suffering a fractured orbital bone.

“I’ll hit him again!” Cartagena screams at one point within the film.

Cartagena, who has been with the department for twenty-four years, has been suspended without pay, News 12 Westchester reported. According to AA, he was promoted to his current rank in 2019 tweet from policecareer.com.

“Police officers take an oath to protect us and uphold the law. The Yonkers Police Department proactively determined that one of its officers was acting contrary to training policy and immediately referred the matter to my office,” said Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah. “The facts learned during our investigation were presented to the grand jury, which returned an indictment charging the defendant with crimes related to the alleged use of excessive force.”

The sergeant is supported by the CLSA police union in Yonkers. Union president, Det. Captain Michael Hanley issued a statement on the matter, noting his position that Cartagena “was carrying out her official duties in an attempt to subdue a violent criminal.”

“The pursuit began with the suspect stealing a civilian vehicle and then leading multiple police units on a high-speed chase throughout the town of Yonkers. The perpetrator intentionally caused accidents with several police vehicles, leading to injuries to officers,” Hanley said. “The perpetrator’s actions during the pursuit endangered the lives of many Yonkers residents. “The detective sergeant was performing his official duties in an try and subdue a violent criminal who was resisting arrest attempts.”

Hanley also condemned Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Police Commissioner Chris Sapienza for allegedly failing to offer Cartagena with adequate “due process” and expressed confidence that he can be exonerated.

“Every person in this great country has the right to a fair trial. Unfortunately, based on the statements made by Mayor Spano and Commissioner Sapienza, Detective Sergeant Cartagena was denied this right,” Hanley continued. “Their rush to judgment in the case of a 25-year YPD veteran with an honorable record is disappointing, and these comments may negatively impact his right to a fair trial.”

“CLSA in Yonkers looks forward to Detective Sergeant Cartagena having the chance to present all of the facts on this case. We consider that after a full review of all evidence, Detective Sergeant Cartagena can be acquitted of all charges.

Some web users have already convicted Cartagena within the court of public opinion, but additionally they consider he can be acquitted.

“The fees don’t matter at all once they get probation and can still keep their job,” one Reddit user wrote under a post showing body camera footage.

Other users claimed that colleagues from Cartagena were equally guilty.

“If you taser someone because they use their hands to ward off punches and kicks in the face, you should also serve a prison sentence,” wrote one. “And his shitty partner didn’t do anything. Why aren’t officers who see such behavior and do nothing about it also punished?” asked one other.

Despite Cartagena’s arrest, the suspect can also be wanted by the Westchester District Attorney’s Office for gross theft, reckless endangerment and assault.

The next court date in Cartagena is scheduled for July 31.