Albany Officer Arrested, Accused of Slamming Teen Girl to the Ground
http://www.twcnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2016/08/17/officers-allegedly-slam-st-anne-institute-resident-to-ground-albany.html
Speaking to the media Wednesday, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox announced the arrest of officer Ervis Miftari, saying the officer;s actions with a 15-year-old girl was out of line.
"Our responsibilities are to protect the vulnerable," Cox said. "This was not protecting the vulnerable."
Police say on July 26, Miftari and his partner John Schueler responded to the St. Anne Institute for a female assaulting a staff member and breaking items. After arriving, the pair made a police report, then, per school protocol, placed the girl into a room with video surveillance.
"Officer Miftari enters the room and engages the 15-year-old female in a physical confrontation, grabbing her and pushing her," Cox said.
The chief says 30 seconds later, after leaving the room, Miftari is seen on video entering again when court documents say he grabbed her by the jaw, pushed her against the wall, then threw her against the ground.
"He holds her there for a time period of 30 seconds, then lets her get back up. They have a discussion and he leaves the room," Cox said.
This all occurred while Miftari's partner and three staff members watched. The chief says on August 4, the school notified police of the incident.
Miftari turned himself in and was arraigned Wednesday on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and second degree harassment.
"There was no reason for that use of force to happen," Cox said. "This was not during an arrest."
Schueler is currently placed on administrative duty, because the chief says he didn't stop Miftari.
"He did not commit a crime," Cox said. "I expect our officers to step in and stop something if they see something happening."
The girl, he says, is shaken up but is doing OK.
Both officers, the chief says, went against what police are trained to do.
"The officer has a good record here," Cox said. "He is certainly described as a fair officer, but this is unacceptable."
Cox added he will not be releasing the video, because he does not want to put the girl through any more trauma. Miftari is due back in court on September 14.