The union slammed New York City after it released a man who was recorded sucker punching a police officer.
A pair of New York Police Department officers approached the man, Hayes, who was visibly drunk and acting in a belligerent manner.
The NYPD officers instructed Hayes to vacate the are where he had been drinking in public, blocking and presumable harassing pedestrians trying to avoid his drunken aggression.
At this point Hayes proceeded to attack the NYPD officer. Hayes began throwing punches, ultimately wrestling the NYPD office to the ground before the second partner was able to call in the assault and request backup.
Once backup was requested, the second partner attempted to separate Hayes from the officer with a baton screaming, “Get off of him! Get off of him!”
Another ATTACK on NYPD Cops!Was this officer working alone? Who was saying “Mr. Get off of him”? All street cops BE CAREFUL, the city is falling and YOU are the first target. pic.twitter.com/PfISCPFn9l
— SBA (@SBANYPD) December 28, 2019
NBC New York writes, “the union representing the cops tweeted a statement from PBA President Pat Lynch, first given to the NY Post.
“When will our elected leaders admit that the streets are out of control? The perps know they can sucker punch a cop and escape with no consequences. And cops know that City Hall will not back them up. The situation is getting more dangerous by the day,” says Lynch.
After Hayes was successfully separated from the officer, he was handcuffed and brought in on charges of assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct.
In an bizarre turn of events, Hayes was released from custody with minimal repercussions and no bail.
Hayes claims he was simply resting on the street due to a leg injury when he was asked to move, which fails to explain the nature of the attack on the NYPD officers.
Commentators have pointed out that an injured man would seem an unlikely person to start a fist fight with a uniformed police officer with backup present.
“Yeah, I feel bad,” Haynes reflects back on his actions.
Following Hayes release from custody, and after finding out that there was essentially no penalty administered by and legal system, PBA released a second statement reiterating, “perps know they can sucker punch a cop and escape with no consequences.”
