Complaint #202003978,
June 2, 2020

Summary

On June 2, 2020, [redacted] and [redacted] were all taking part as a group in a protest in honor of Black Trans Lives that was progressing southbound on West Street toward Battery Place in Manhattan. Shortly after 8 p.m., officers began walking northbound on West Street toward the protestors giving instructions for people to disperse due to the curfew and arresting people who did not do so. [redacted] and [redacted] who had been in the middle of the crowd of protestors, linked arms and moved forward toward the officers to form a line of white individuals between the officers and the transgender protestors and protestors of color.
At approximately 8:15 pm., when [redacted] and [redacted] were in front of 50 West Street, a line of approximately five to 10 officers approached them. One of the officers allegedly lifted his baton and struck [redacted] s left forearm (Allegation A: Force – Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton), [redacted]). [redacted] who had been holding onto [redacted] s arm with his left hand, released his grip, and approximately five officers, including Inspector Gerald Dowling of SRG (Inspector Dowling has since been promoted to Deputy Chief and transferred to IAB) grabbed [redacted] by the upper body and pulled him down to the ground (Allegations B and C: Force – Physical Force, [redacted]). Once [redacted] was on the ground in a seated position with his legs outstretched in front of him, Inspector Dowling allegedly wrapped his arm around [redacted] s neck (Allegation D: Force – Chokehold, [redacted]) and leaned forward onto [redacted] s back such that his chest was forced down toward his legs (Allegation E: Force -- Restricted Breathing, [redacted]). Inspector Dowling and the other officers then placed [redacted] into Zip Ties (subsumed under allegations B and C).
At the same time, [redacted] and [redacted] continued to walk backward away from the officers. Other protestors, including [redacted] were in the same general vicinity walking backwards when officers, including PO Jonathan Ku of... Read report for details.