Nassau County Executive Curran calls for investigation into alleged Freeport police brutality incident

Officials are calling for an investigation into what some people say is a case of brutality at the hands of a group of Freeport Village police officers.

News 12 Staff

Dec 5, 2019, 7:45 PM

Updated 1,597 days ago

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Officials are calling for an investigation into what some people say is a case of brutality at the hands of a group of Freeport Village police officers.
Video of the alleged altercation seems to show the man, confirmed to be 44-year-old Akbar Rogers by the Freeport Village attorney, fighting with the Freeport officers near a house on Seaman Avenue.
Rogers can be heard calling out for help in the video. Several officers are seen punching him in the head, while yelling for him to "stop resisting arrest."
A Taser is also heard being used. According to the Freeport Village attorney, Rogers had run from police as officers tried to apprehend him.
The attorney also says Rogers was wanted on an outstanding warrant for aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and in a separate alleged case of physical harassment. They also say Rogers led officers on a police chase Monday.
Rogers' son, Rahquell Rogers, denies his father was involved in the chase as he doesn't own a vehicle. He also says the officers seen in the video should be fired.
"If my dad wasn't a built... well-stable man... I think that they would have literally killed my dad," Rahquell Rogers says.
Rogers told News 12 that the officers dislocated his arm and had him subdued. He says the officers were excessive.
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran called for an independent investigation into the arrest of Rogers. She says Mayor Robert Kennedy is also requesting an investigation.
Freeport Village spokesperson Brian Finnegan confirmed to News 12 that Kennedy's son was one of the officers in the video.
The Nassau District Attorney's Office says it's reviewing the matter.
Freeport Police Benevolent Association president Shawn Randall said in a statement that the organization stands behind the officers.
"I am confident that when the judicial process is complete and all facts are presented, it will be confirmed that our officers did their jobs in accordance with the law," Randall said in the statement.
News 12 reached out to Kennedy for comment. The officers involved remain on active duty.
 


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