Council member accused of biting NYPD officer speaks out

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) – A city council member accused of biting an NYPD officer during a protest Wednesday in Brooklyn said she was protecting an elderly community member, and called the police’s behavior “upsetting.”

Susan Zhuang, who represents Bensonhurst, spoke out for the first time Thursday in a news conference and said officers cuffed her, pulled her hair, and grabbed her neck during her arrest at a protest at a construction site for a shelter in Bensonhurst. Zhuang said she struggled to breathe.

"I never imagined [it’d] happen to me… that should not happen to anyone,” Zhuang said as the crowd yelled out things like 'fire them.'

Zhuang was charged with assault, resisting arrest, and obstruction of governmental administration, police said. On Thursday, Zhuang showed more photos from the chaotic protest, including a photo seemingly showing a woman pinned under a police barrier, who Zhuang said she was protecting.

Zhuang showed another video that seemingly shows an officer holding and moving Zhuang by her neck.

“Police brutality is wrong… the misuse of enforcement is wrong," Zhuang said.

Zhuang noted she has been a supporter of the NYPD in the past, something Mayor Eric Adams also noted when he addressed the incident.

“It was a pretty nasty bite,” Adams told PIX11 News on Thursday. “I was a little bit surprised that this happened with the councilwoman. She’s extremely supportive of police… these are emotional issues. No one wants a shelter open in their area.”

Speaker Adrienne Adams took issue with the mayor's handling of the situation, and wondered whether other elected officials would receive so much grace in Zhuang's position.

"I honestly don’t think that some of my other members would be receiving the same level of grace from the mayor and a sit down conversation right now,” Adrienne Adams said.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.