NYPD Officers Indicted for Excessive Use of Force in Multiple Incidents

A New York City police officer, Christian Zapata, has been indicted on one count of assault in the third degree for allegedly punching a man more than a dozen times during a service call in December 2022. The incident, captured on body camera footage, occurred while responding to a call about an autistic teen in crisis. The victim had asked the officers to wear facemasks and called for a supervisor, but they refused. Zapata allegedly punched the boyfriend of the teen's mother multiple times, leading to his arrest. However, the district attorney's office declined to prosecute the boyfriend and instead turned him into a witness against Zapata. The officer has pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance.