MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Former NYPD Officer Juan Perez was found guilty of assault for punching an individual in the face six times while on duty in November 2021, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Thursday.
The assault happened during a confrontation in Greenwich Village on November 10.
Perez and his partner responded to a report of a man acting erratically, according to court documents and witness statements. Perez took an alcohol bottle from the man and began talking with him, authorities said.
Perez later pushed the man against a wall in an effort to handcuff him, but a struggle ensued when both fell to the ground, officials said. Perez’s partner helped subdue the man, authorities said.
Bystander video of the incident showed Perez hitting the individual multiple times, knocking him unconscious.
City records show Perez, an officer since 2006, has had nine complaints against him, including allegations involving physical force, but none were substantiated. Records also show he was disciplined for a 2014 off-duty threatening incident.
The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York sent the following statement in response to the conviction:
“This verdict will send a chilling message to every police officer. These prosecutors and the court are effectively telling police officers we can’t do our job. The community called the police because this individual was intoxicated and out of control on the streets. When our police officer arrived, he attempted to de-escalate the situation. That’s when this individual attacked him, threw him to the ground, and put his hand around our police officer’s neck. Cops are being violently attacked on the streets every day. If this is what happens when we try to protect ourselves, we won’t be able to protect the public. We believe this verdict ignores all the facts and we will be helping our police officer appeal it immediately.”
PBA President Patrick HenrySentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2024.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.
The AP contributed to this story.
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