A Hempstead man who was shot in the leg by police during a traffic stop faced a judge Monday, and his attorney is accusing police of misconduct in the case.

According to Hempstead Village police, 27-year-old John Green was spotted driving erratically by two officers on patrol back on May 15. They say they attempted to pull him over, and he initially did not stop, but then pulled over at a home on Harvard Street.

Officers say they approached the car and told Green to put his hands on the steering wheel. According to a statement by the village police chief, Green then turned sideways toward the car's console and placed his hand on the console. The chief says the officer believed Green was taking a gun out of the console, and that's when he fired a round into the car. Green sped away, but the car was eventually recovered.

In court documents, the two officers involved in the incident are identified only as Officers Frank and Buccellatto.

Green was arraigned Monday on charges including fleeing a police officer. His lawyer, civil rights attorney Fred Brewington, says police used excessive force.

"He stopped for the police officers to speak with him and then he was shot.  Any man, reasonable person is not going to stay there and continue to get shot," Brewington says.

"We have levels of violence by members of the Hempstead Police Department that have been mounting," Brewington says. "There's a real question here about how the system is being used to turn this individual, who is a victim of police violence and a victim of police misconduct, into something he's not."

News 12 repeatedly sought comment on the case from Hempstead Village police, but did not receive a response.

News 12 also contacted Nassau police in an attempt to learn if Green's car was searched and if a weapon was found, but also did not hear back.