A New York Metropolis police officer was charged with third-degree assault and different crimes Tuesday for viciously shoving to the road a 20-year-old girl who had been collaborating in a protest in opposition to police brutality.

Additionally Tuesday, the top of the New York Police Division stated that one other cop had been positioned on modified responsibility and referred to disciplinary motion for an incident wherein he opened the door of a transferring police automobile, hitting a protestor.

The cop charged Tuesday, Vincent D’Andraia, 28, of the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, already had been suspended by the New York Police Division for the Could 29 incident, which was captured on a video broadly shared on Twitter and different social media platforms. The protest was considered one of many sparked by the dying of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

That video reveals D’Andraia hurling the protestor, Dounya Zayer, towards a curb on a road. He then walked off, with a police supervisor straight behind him.

In line with prosecutors, Zayer had been on the street when D’Andraia instructed her to maneuver. When Zayer requested why, the officer allegedly smacked her telephone out of her hand after which shoved her down.

“I’m deeply troubled by this pointless assault. We are going to now search to carry this defendant accountable,” Brooklyn District Legal professional Eric Gonzalez stated in a press release. Gonzalez charged D’Andraia with fourth-degree prison mischief, second-degree harassment and third-degree menacing, along with the assault rely.

D’Andraia was launched with out bail after surrendering in Brooklyn Prison Courtroom, the place a decide ordered him to haven’t any contact with Zayer.

The incident was considered one of a quantity in New York and different U.S. cities that has led to complaints of police overreaction to demonstrations associated to Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for greater than eight minutes.

It’s uncommon for an NYPD officer to be criminally charged in reference to their work, notably in circumstances the place they’re accused of violence in opposition to a civilian.

“I absolutely help the long-held American custom of non-violent protest,” Gonzalez stated.

“As District Legal professional I can’t tolerate using extreme pressure in opposition to anybody exercising this Constitutionally assured proper. That is very true of those that are sworn to guard us and uphold the regulation,” the highest prosecutor added.

Zayer has stated that she was handled for a seizure and a concussion at a hospital after D’Andraia shoved her.

“He did this in entrance of his lieutenant and a number of different officers who watched me hit the bottom. One even appeared again to ensure I used to be nonetheless on the bottom, they usually continued strolling,” Zayer stated final week.

“Not one officer tried to assist me, and never one officer tried to cease the officer who assaulted me.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea final week apologized for circumstances wherein officers have engaged “in racial bias, in extreme pressure, unacceptable conduct, unacceptable language, and plenty of different errors.”

“I’ve stated the place officers have acted unprofessional, we are going to take care of that, I’ll take care of that,” Shea stated on the time. The commissioner stated then that there have been a half-dozen or so movies exhibiting attainable police misconduct beneath assessment by the Inside Affairs Bureau.

On Tuesday,  Shea issued a press release on the Could 29 incident of a cop opening a door from the transferring unmarked police automobile, putting a protester on a Brooklyn road, saying the “NYPD is taking motion concerning an episode in latest days that raises critical issues … .”

“Whereas the investigation remains to be ongoing, there isn’t a doubt in my thoughts that based mostly on the seriousness of what we have seen in latest days, transparency is important,” Shea stated.

The commissioner stated that Inside Affairs investigators have concluded an investigation, and the unidentified officer is now on modified responsibility.

“This case has been referred to the Division Advocate for disciplinary motion,” the NYPD stated in a press release. “There are different issues that we’re actively investigating and we are going to proceed to be clear as the method continues.”

The Police Benevolent Affiliation, the union that represents NYPD officers, on Monday condemned the anticipated prosecution of D’Andraia, and accused Mayor Invoice de Blasio and NYPD leaders of “as soon as once more … sacrificing cops to save lots of their very own pores and skin.”

“They created the failed technique for managing these demonstrations. They despatched law enforcement officials out to do the job with no help and no clear plan,” stated PBA President Patrick Lynch.

“They need to be those going through this mob-rule justice. We are going to say it once more: New York Metropolis law enforcement officials have been deserted by our management. We’re totally alone in our efforts to guard our metropolis,” Lynch stated.

The 4 Minneapolis cops concerned in Floyd’s arrest have all been fired. The officer who knelt on his neck, Derek Chauvin, has been charged with homicide and manslaughter, whereas the opposite three cops have been charged with aiding and abetting these crimes.

The 4 officers had been arresting Floyd on suspicion of utilizing a counterfeit invoice in a purchase order.

Chauvin is being held in lieu of bail of as much as $1.25 million. The opposite three are being held in lieu of bail of as much as $1 million.

Floyd’s funeral is scheduled to happen in Houston on Tuesday.