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BODYCAM VIDEO: Shirtless NYS Judge shoves officer, swears, name-drops during neighbor dispute

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Police bodycams captured a shirtless New York state Supreme Court justice shoving a Buffalo officer and telling officers that Mayor Byron Brown is a friend and that he has family on the police force during an altercation that occurred this summer.

Officials handcuffed Justice Mark Grisanti and his wife, Maria and placed both in the back of police vehicles during the June 23 incident.


Authorities responded to a dispute the couple had with neighbors.

Body camera clips show officials speaking to the neighbors as Maria yells at them from across the street.

"Ma'am, if you don't stop yelling, this is gonna be a problem for you," an officer responds.

"I don't care," Maria shouts back.

The footage also shows Grisanti shouting at the officials as he comes up from behind and he shoves the officer attempting to arrest Maria.

Grisanti then mentions that he is friends with Mayor Byron Brown and that his son-in-law and daughter are both on the force.

Another officer at the scene grabs Mark by the arm and said, "eep your hands off of a cop."

"You better get off my f***ing wife," Mark Grisanti shouts, adding "My daughter and my son are both Buffalo police officers … I'll call them right now."

Another officer then begins to reprimand Grisanti for name-dropping.

"Let me give you some constructive criticism. You want to drop another copper's name? You scream about how you … know the mayor? Why don't you shut the f**k up!" the officer says, then begins to place him in handcuffs.

In July, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn's office announced after reviewing the altercation, no charges were filed relating to the incident.

Buffalo Police spokesman Capt. Jeff Rinaldo told WKBW that officers did not charge Grisanti because he "didn't tackle anyone. He didn't punch him. He gave him like a shoulder shove."

A spokesman for Mayor Brown issued a statement to the station saying he wouldn't "interfere."

"It has been, and remains, my policy as Mayor not to interfere in any police investigation," Brown said. "I have not spoken to the Buffalo Police Department, District Attorney Flynn, or Judge Grisanti regarding this matter. I believe that the District Attorney's office is in the best position to determine the appropriate course of action."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo nominated Grisanti, a Republican, to the Court of Claims in 2015 after he lost his Senate seat in 2014.

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