NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A video taken at the Dominican Day Parade in the Bronx on Sunday shows NYPD officers punching Arnardo Vargas Jr. over a dozen times as multiple cops try to restrain him, and the local branch of Black Lives Matter is calling for accountability from the 44th Precinct.
Vargas, 25, said at a press conference held with BLM of Greater New York on Friday that he and his friends were complying with a police order to move off of a particular part of the street, but that the situation still escalated.
“I seen the look in his eyes and he just kept on going, and I heard him say something ‘get him’ and then from that point on, I just seen people grabbing my head and started punching me,” Vargas said.
It happened as the July 28 Dominican Day Parade was dispersing on 166th Street near River Avenue.
BLM and its leaders are now calling for an investigation by the Department of Justice, and involvement from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The video showing the violent arrest was posted earlier this week by Hawk Newsome, co-founder of BLM of Greater New York, with text overlay that reads: “While Kamala Harris is doing the electric slide. This is what officers in the 44th precinct are doing in the Bronx. Mayor Adams just lets them.”
In the post caption, Newsome criticizes the 44th Precinct and and calls upon Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Councilmember Dr. Yusef Salaam to speak out and ensure the safety of the public in the Bronx.
“I’ve posted about these cops at the 44 countless times,” Newsome wrote. “You’ve seen them on the news. You Brothers being silent on this sends a loud message to The People.”
The president of the Police Benevolent Association Patrick Hendry said that Vargas resisted arrest, and NYPD policy permits police to use force, “including hand strikes,” to bring a resisting suspect into custody.
“Police officers are working in an environment where people are emboldened to not only resist arrest, but assault and injure police officers in increasing numbers,” Hendry said.
Vargas is charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct fighting, police said.
Newsome said that Vargas suffered a concussion from 13 strikes to the head.
“This young man is standing before you, shaking, unable to make eye contact because the 44th Precinct stole his dignity,” Chivona Newsome, co-founder of BLM of Greater New York, said at Friday’s press conference.
Vargas, who was visibly upset, said that the traumatic incident ruined a day that was meant to celebrate his heritage.
“It was supposed to be a good day, a nice calm day, but it turned into probably one of the worst days of my life,” Vargas said.