NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — An NYPD sergeant has pleaded guilty to punching a 48-year-old man in a Harlem holding cell in October 2019 and to attacking a 35-year-old man during an arrest in an Upper West Side subway station in April 2020, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Wednesday.
Philip Wong, 37, pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to third-degree assault and third-degree attempted assault.
According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, the 15-year veteran of the NYPD was a sergeant assigned to Transit District 3 on Oct. 4, 2019, when a group of officers brought a 48-year-old man and two other individuals to the precinct on West 145th Street for arrest processing.
Wong and two other officers escorted the man to the holding cells. As the officers closed the cell door, the man – who was handcuffed – kicked the door once and began spitting at them.
Wong then allegedly pushed past the two officers, re-opened the door and punched the man in the face. The victim was transported to the hospital and treated for a laceration above his right eye, which required stitches.
In a separate incident, Wong was observing officers under his supervision at the subway station at West 96th Street and Broadway when an officer arrested a 35-year-old man after observing him punch another passenger on an arriving train.
As the officers led the man out of the station, he allegedly yelled obscenities and anti-Asian slurs at Wong, then kicked Wong in the leg when they reached the emergency exit.
Wong and another officer brought the man to the ground with his arms rear-cuffed, and Wong knelt on the man’s back as he lay on his stomach. The man continued to taunt Wong, and then shouted, "I can’t breathe!" Wong responded, "I don’t give a f**k if you can breathe or not!" and punched the man in the side of the face.
The 37-year-old then allegedly placed both of his knees on the man’s back and bounced on his back multiple times. The man was taken to the hospital, where medical staff determined he had not sustained any physical injuries.
"Law enforcement officials are sworn to serve and protect their communities, including New Yorkers in their custody," Bragg said in a statement. "In this case, Sergeant Wong violated not only his oath – but the law – during the violent arrests of two New Yorkers, on two separate occasions."
Bragg said his office is committed to investigating and prosecuting police violence, and he encourages any victims or witnesses of similar conduct to report it to their Police Accountability Unit.
Related
Related
