New York – Authorities say three homeless men who battled a New York City police officer on a subway platform will face criminal charges after video of the encounter got attention.
Police said Wednesday two will be charged with riot and obstructing governmental administration. A third will face those counts and attempted assault.
Footage of the altercation was viewed more than 4.75 million times on social media. It shows an officer using a baton and kicking at the men as they come at him. Two other men in the video appeared to be trying to break up the scuffle. They haven’t been charged.
Police only initially cited the men for sleeping on the station floor. The Manhattan District Attorney’s stopped prosecuting such violations in 2016.
The charges announced Wednesday come after criticism from a police union.
As reported by Vos Iz Neias