Last remaining criminal charge dropped against Freeport man who alleges police brutality

The charges stemmed from an incident that was captured on cellphone video in December of 2019. Freeport police had responded to arrest Akbar Rogers on a harassment charge for allegedly pushing a pregnant woman.

News 12 Staff

Oct 1, 2021, 12:48 AM

Updated 1,085 days ago

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The last criminal charge has been dropped against a Freeport man who says he was the victim of police brutality by Freeport Village police.
The charges stemmed from an incident that was captured on cellphone video in December of 2019. Freeport police had responded to arrest Akbar Rogers on a harassment charge for allegedly pushing a pregnant woman. 
Rogers' attorney Randy Zelin tells News 12 that the harassment violation that led to the charges was dismissed after a court appearance on Monday.
"The prosecution came forward and said they could not be ready for trial," Zelin says. "That dismissal was with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought again."

Nicole Turso, the deputy communications director for the Nassau District Attorney's Office, said in a statement, "This non-criminal violation charge was dismissed due to witness unavailability that precluded a speedy trial."

Zelin would not make Rogers available for an interview with News 12 Thursday, since there is a pending civil case. But News 12's Eileen Lehpamer spoke with him in July of 2020, when the Nassau DA dropped assault and resisting arrest charges against him.

At the time, he said, "I'm so happy, I'm like trembling still, like a state of shock still... I'm elated right now, I'm so happy this came to an end right now, with the dismissal."
Rogers' attorney tells News 12 that he's going to the governor's office to pursue criminal charges against the Freeport officers. The Nassau DA's Office has declined to do so.

An attorney for the officers has told News 12 that "multiple use of force experts" reached the same conclusion - that "any force used was reasonable and necessary."