Freeport man suing village, Nassau County for alleged police brutality

A Freeport man is suing the village after he says he experienced police brutality.
Akbar Roger and his lawyers announced that they filed a notice of claim Thursday against the Village of Freeport, Freeport police, Nassau police and Nassau County.
Rogers was wanted for harassment and traffic violations and police say that he led officers on a high-speed chase in November.
Cellphone video captured Rogers' arrest by Freeport police in December. The video shows police punching and using a Taser on Rogers, and Rogers crying for help.

"It is unconscionable in today's society that after someone surrenders to the police that they should be taken up bodily, thrown to the ground, face pushed in the dirt," says Greg-Patric Martello, Roger's lawyer. "He was brutalized in an outrageous fashion at the hands of those who are sworn to protect us. He was dehumanized."
Attorneys also say Roger suffered a fractured wrist, a concussion and shoulder and spinal injuries during the incident, as well as psychological and emotional damage.
Roger was charged with resisting arrest and second-degree assault stemming from the arrest.
"The notion that our client was actually charged with assaulting these police officers is empirically absurd and offensive to any reasonably minded person," says Attorney Stephen Lamagna.
News 12 reached out to the district attorney, Nassau County, Nassau police, Freeport police and the Village of Freeport for comment, but has not heard back yet.