The New York Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating an incident involving some of their officers shown on video appearing to slam a pregnant woman to the ground.
The video surfaced online Tuesday, posted to El Grito De Sunset Park’s Facebook page. The video’s accumulated nearly 3000 shares.
The video shows a pregnant woman, Sandra Amezquita, interfering in her teenage son’s arrest for allegedly having a knife last Saturday.
Amezquita found herself part of a scuffle with officers when she tried to intervene with the arrest and was subdued by police officers by being pushed, belly first, down to the ground.
The video also shows police shoving another woman who tried to approach them.
The teenager’s dad, Ronel Lemos was also part of the melee, as well as another man, Secundino Payamps. Both were charged with obstructing governmental administration, harassment and assault on a police officer.
Jhohan Lemos, 17, was booked for illegal possession of a deadly weapon, harassment and resisting arrest.
Members of the community watch group which posted the video online expressed disgust and outrage over the excessive use of force on a pregnant woman.
Amezquita’s stomach is reportedly covered with black and blue bruises and is experiencing bleeding as a result of the incident.