NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center-Brooklyn has been accused of chasing a civilian car and firing three gunshots at the car, striking a passenger last year, the United States Attorney Eastern District of New York announced Monday.
The complaint, which was unsealed on Monday accused Leon Wilson, 49, of "willfully depriving an individual of his constitutional rights while acting under color of law", authorities said.
Wilson was taken into federal custody on Sunday and is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.
"Correctional officers are sworn to uphold the law but, as alleged, this defendant violated his oath and position by starting a dangerous car chase through the streets of Brooklyn ending with him shooting wildly at the passengers in the other car without justification, and wounding one," United States Attorney Peace said.
According to court documents, Wilson was on duty at MDC-Brooklyn in Sunset Park on Sept. 4, 2023 and driving a Bureau of Prisons (BOP)-issued minivan when he chased a BMW out of the facility's staff parking lot and off MDC-Brooklyn property.
Wilson had no authority to pursue the BMW past MDC-Brooklyn's property line, but did so anyway, ultimately chasing the BMW to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge, approximately five miles from the facility, prosecutors said.
During the chase, Wilson exceeded the speed limit, passed other vehicles, and ran red lights. About two minutes after the chase began Wilson was nearly a mile from MDC-Brooklyn when he fired three shots at the BMW, officials said.
One of the shots penetrated the rear of the vehicle and struck a passenger in the back seat. Wilson continued to chase the BMW for several minutes after firing his weapon and never reported the on-duty shooting to the NYPD, MDC-Brooklyn, or BOP personnel.
"Today's complaint alleges that Wilson recklessly pursued another vehicle through the streets of Brooklyn and fired a weapon three times, harming a passenger and endangering countless New Yorkers. His alleged conduct was dangerous, illegal, and antithetical to the behavior we expect from an officer of the law," Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Region said.
