New York City Cop Acquitted After Punching Suspect Who Refused To Leave Store

In 2021, Officer Salvatore Provenzano, a New York City police officer was trying to escort a suspect out of an Apple store when it all happened.

The officer and suspect got into a tussle.

Provenzano believed he was about to be attacked an launched a single swipe at the suspect.

The entire incident was caught on body camera.

Unfortunately for the 17-year NYPD veteran, District Attorney Alvin Bragg decided that Provenzano was in the wrong.

Bragg charged the officer with a third-degree assault.

Now, nearly three years after the incident took place, Provenzano has finally received the ultimate news.

He has been acquitted of the charges.

His lawyer, Stu London, released a statement on the incident, saying that “all this officer did was attempt to escort [the man] out of the location.”

London went on to say that “as he puts his hand on his elbow to have him leave, [the man] immediately flings his arm back and tenses his body, and this officer reasonably thought he was gonna be struck, and he hits him one time, and he goes down with no injuries at all.”

Now, even the New York City President of the Police Benevolent Association, Patrick Hendry, has released a statement on the news.

“We’re grateful that the court recognized that reality and acquitted him, but unfortunately, a lot of damage has been done. A good, hardworking cop has been sidelined for nearly a year, and police officers across this borough are wondering if their careers will also be derailed by baseless charges,” Patrick Hendry said.

“My client’s gratified that the judge saw through this and realized this was not an assault case at all — this was just an officer defending himself from what he thought was an aggressive action by the individual he was dealing with,” Provenzano’s lawyer, London said.

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