(CNN) – New Yorkers took to the streets to protest this week when the New York Police Department (NYPD) released body camera footage of a police shooting involving a knife-wielding subway fare evader. , which generated strong public criticism.
Four people were shot in Sunday’s incident that began when a man jumped the subway turnstile, evading the $2.90 fare, in front of two transit patrol officers guarding the Brooklyn subway entry point.
Police say the two officers chased Derrell Mickles, 37, onto the subway platform, where they then confronted the man armed with a knife and repeatedly ordered him to let go. The interaction later escalated after Mickles refused to comply.
In body camera and surveillance video of the incident, edited and released by the NYPD on Friday, a man, identified by police as Mickles, is seen entering a subway car arriving at the station during the confrontation in an apparent attempt to evade police. The officers unsuccessfully deploy stun guns on him before chasing him to the subway platform.
After a brief chase along the subway platform, Mickles finds himself cornered, flanked by two officers. He stops abruptly, and then the video shows the officers firing their weapons multiple times in his direction, causing Mickles to collapse in the subway car.
Police say the officers only fired their weapons after Mickles attacked them.
“Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation by asking the suspect to drop the knife more than 30 times and deployed Tasers (stun guns) three times, all without success,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said in a social media post. social.
Two bystanders and an officer were also hit by gunfire in the incident, according to police, who said one of those bystanders was hit in the head by a stray bullet.
Mickles was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon, among other charges. He was arraigned Friday and pleaded not guilty.
CNN has contacted an attorney representing Mickles for comment.
“This incident was not about fare evasion,” NYPD Patrol Chief John Chell emphasized to reporters at a press conference Wednesday. “This incident was about a person in mental stress armed with a deadly weapon and protecting our police officers and citizens on that train.”
Public defenders and New York City residents protesting excessive use of force by police disagree.
New York City public advocacy group the Legal Aid Society expresses concern about the surveillance and body camera footage, saying it “does not capture all of the chaos at the NYPD” and “completely contradicts the department’s claim that (Derrell) Mickles ‘attacked’ one of the officers.”
“As the video clearly shows, Mr. Mickles was standing still when NYPD personnel discharged their firearms at him,” the Legal Aid statement said.
