‘Sorry, he’s so tall I thought he was an adult when I took him down’: NYPD cop’s ‘excuse’ for battering and tasing 16-year-old boy, THREE TIMES during George Floyd protest
- Jahmel Leach, 16, was allegedly tased and beaten by cops in the Bronx on June 1
- The teen had been walking near Fordham Rd during a night of looting and arson
- Police claim he was seen trying to light a fire and running out of a T-Mobile store that had been targeted by looters – which his family denies
- He was tased three times before being taken to the hospital and later charged
- Family claims they were not notified despite Jahmel being a minor
The NYPD has launched an investigation after a 16-year-old boy was allegedly beaten and tased by cops during a night of riots and looting in the city during the early days of George Floyd protests.
The family of Jahmel Leach has released gruesome photos of the teenager’s bloodied face in the hospital following the incident in the Bronx on June 1.
They say Leach had been on the sidelines of a protest that had spiraled out of control on Fordham Road, where businesses were targeted by looters and fires were being ignited on the street.
He was allegedly tased three times by police officers before being taken to St Barnabas Hospital without the knowledge of his parents.
The family of Jahmel Leach has released gruesome photos of the teenager’s bloodied face after he was allegedly tased and ‘beaten’ by NYPD officers in the Bronx on June 1
The 16-year-old was taken to hospital and charged with arson despite being a minor and without his parents’ knowledge, his family claims
A few days after the incident, Jahmel was spotted at another George Floyd demonstration on Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with his injured face
His family only learned of what happened when they received a phone call from the hospital that night, The Daily News reported.
‘He [the officer] beat him. He exploited him. And he handed him over to the mother in an exploitative manner,’ Jahmel’s cousin Yamil Miller told the publication.
Miller said the boy was held ‘against his will and legal right’ as a minor and the family is now demanding answers.
A statement released by the family also alleges the officer told his mother: ‘I’m sorry he is so tall I thought he was an adult when I took him down.’
Police have claimed the boy was allegedly trying to set fire to trash on the street and had been seen running out of a T-Mobile store that was ransacked by looters before he was tased.
He was charged with fifth-degree arson, however, Jahmel’s family has insisted he was not involved in any of the chaos and was only a spectator.
Mayor Bill de Blasio has shared the gruesome photos on Twitter saying he has spoken to the boy’s family.
‘I’ve spoken to Jahmel’s family and I’m really troubled by what they told me. We’re going to get them answers. The NYPD has launched an investigation into what happened,’ he said.
The NYPD would not comment on the police officer involved but told DailyMail.com the matter is under investigation.
A few days after the incident, Jahmel was spotted at another George Floyd demonstration on Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with his injured face.
Miller later shared a photo of Jahmel and Mayor De Blasio at the memorial saying: ‘Discussing EXCESSIVE FORCE with Mayor DiBlasio. JAHMEL wanted to tell his story.’