Michael Mineo Raped by Cops

Michael Mineo, 24, was spotted allegedly smoking pot by 3 police officers. They tried to approach him. He ran. He fled into the Prospect Park subway station and jumped a turnstile. The cops chased him and caught him. He was handcuffed and pinned down. The cops then proceeded to remove his pants. Two of them held down Mineo while the other one, using his baton, sodomized Mineo as he screamed out in pain.

They ignored Mineo's complaints, even after he showed them his hand covered with blood from the sodomy attack. He was given a ticket for disorderly conduct and released, but not before being warned by the cops that if he ever reported the rape he would be charged with a felony.

Michael Mineo, a tattoo artist from Brooklyn, did report the rape. His case was taken to a grand jury which interviewed more than 20 witnesses and examined physical evidence of injuries to Mineo's rectal area.

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"I was violated by police, and I feel like they're going to be brought to justice," Mineo said after he testified. "I'm not the same. I'm not the same me. I was violated by police."

Mineo was hospitalized two times with what sources described as "rectal tears" as a result of the assault.

One cop - Kevin Maloney -  who had knowledge of the rape came forward and identified Officer Richard Kern, 25, as the cop who used his baton to sodomize Mineo. He also identified Officers Alex Cruz, 26 and Andrew Morales, 26, as the cops who helped restrain Mineo. Another officer, Noel Jugraj, 30, who was also on the scene gave testimony. Kern, Cruz, Morales and Jugraj are all from Brooklyn's 71st Precinct. Kevin Maloney is a transit officer.

After hearing all the evidence the grand jury concluded that Officer Richard Kern should be tried for sexual assault and other felonies in the Oct. 15 attack on Mineo. Officers Alex Cruz and Andrew Morales were also indicted for allegedly participating in a cover up.

Michael Mineo expressed gratitude to the transit cop, Kevin Maloney, for breaking the so-called Blue Wall of silence and telling the grand jury what happened.

"I do appreciate him coming forward," he said. "I'd like to thank him."

Michael Mineo was at the arraignment for the three indicted cops and was taunted by other cops, who had come to show their support. He got into a standoff with some plainclothes officers who called him a faggot. Mineo's response - He clapped sarcastically and blew them kisses.

Richard Kern faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of aggravated sexual abuse and assault. He was freed on $15,000 bail. Officers Alex Cruz and Andrew Morales were charged with hindering prosecution and obstructing justice. They face four years in prison if convicted and were freed without bond.

Police union chief Patrick Lynch urged the public to withhold judgment until all the facts are in.

"We have earned the benefit of a doubt with our blood and sacrifice," Lynch said.

Michael Pigott Commits Suicide

Lt. Michael W. Pigott, 46, a 21-year veteran of the NYPD committed suicide on Thursday Oct. 2, 2008 (his birthday). He leaves behind his wife, Susan, two sons and a daughter. He was the police officer who gave the order to taser Iman Morales, 35, who subsequently fell 10ft off the ledge of his apartment building and died. See the details here. and Learn more about Iman Morales here.

Following Morales' death, Pigott was stripped of his gun and badge and assigned to a job with the department's motor vehicle fleet — a huge demotion for a 21-year veteran who headed the elite team known as the Emergency Services Unit (ESU). Police Officer Nicholas Marchesona, 37, the officer who tasered Morales on orders from Pigott, was also disciplined. He was reassigned to desk duty but was not stripped of his gun and badge. The Brooklyn district attorney's office and the police department are both investigating the incident.

The episode also casts the spotlight on the NYPD's emergency services unit, a team of officers who deal with dozens of hostile scenarios every day, such as hostage situations, suicidal suspects, building collapses and hazardous materials threats.

"These guys are the best of the best, they really are," said Eugene O'Donnell, a professor of police studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. "When people need help, they call the police, and when police need help, they call the ESU."

Both Pigott and Marchesona were ordered to undergo counseling. Pigott was remorseful and distraught. He apologized directly to Morales' family saying he was truly sorry for what had happened.

"I am truly sorry for what happened to Mr. Morales," Pigott had said. "I feel terrible about what happened to the man."

He would not discuss the incident, but suggested his career would never be the same.

"I've been a police officer for 21 years," Pigott said. "And I loved being with the Emergency Services Unit."

On Thursday, Oct. 2, the morning of Morales' funeral, Pigott went alone to Floyd Bennett Field, the headquarters of the police Emergency Services unit, in Brooklyn, took a 9-mm Glock from another officer's locker (having been relieved of his own weapon) and committed suicide.

Nearby was a photo of his wife and children and a note. He didn't want his family to see him get arrested, according to sources familiar with the note, and he didn't want anyone to blame Officer Nicholas Marchesano, who fired the Taser at Morales on his order.

Marchesano, who has been on desk duty since the incident, could not be reached Thursday. A police officer posted outside his Staten Island home said no one from the family wanted to talk to reporters.

Reactions to Michael Pigott's Suicide

“The lieutenant was deeply distraught and extremely remorseful over the death of Iman Morales in Brooklyn last week,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said at a City Hall news conference. “Sadly, his death just compounds the tragedy of the loss of Mr. Morales.”

"On behalf of all of the members of the New York City Police Department, I extend deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lt. Michael W. Pigott, who served with dedication for 21 years," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said.

"Lt. Pigott was an outstanding member of that unit who was called upon to make a split second decision which had a tragic result. Contrary to many accounts, that decision did indeed weigh very heavily on him," Thomas R. Sullivan, president of the Lieutenants' Benevolent Association, said in a prepared statement. "It's worth remembering that our police officers are not supermen but rather flesh and blood human beings who deal with life and death situations that most of us cannot even imagine on a daily basis."

"It's horrible," Morales' aunt, Ann DeJesus Negron, said after Morales' funeral at Our Lady of Pompeii Church. "This is not the justice we want. This really disturbs the whole family. This is not something we would want anyone to go through." She continued, “I’m sure he was asking for forgiveness,” she said. “And I’m sure that Iman would want us to forgive.” And, referring to the lieutenant’s family, she added, “I just wish that they find peace and healing and trust in life again.”

“Not your typical police officer,” said Jon O’Shaughnessy, a New York City fire marshal and an old friend. “That’s why he was a lieutenant. He was a very positive, upbeat guy. He could have retired last year.” The friend could say no more: His voice broke, and he began to cry.

Lt. Michael Pigott's Biography

Lt. Michael Pigott earned a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics from Dowling College and joined the Police Department in 1987 after failing, because of a hearing problem, to become an Air Force pilot. He did become a licensed civilian pilot, however, as well as a motor boat operator. His police work included many years as an officer and a sergeant assigned to the 73rd and 81st precincts in Brooklyn and the 103rd Precinct in Queens.

He joined the Emergency Services Unit, in 2002, whose officers face a wide range of challenges, including rescuing window-washers dangling outside towers and trying to talk people out of killing themselves. He was cited 11 times for excellent police duty and 9 other times for meritorious service.

Lt. Michael W. Pigott and Iman Morales both victims of the Taser!

Larry Davis Killed in Prison

Depending on who you talk to, Larry Davis, 41, was either a folk hero or an out-of-control murderer whose victims included both the police and drug dealers. He was stabbed to death in a prison-yard fight on Wednesday, Feb. 20 2008, by a fellow inmate, Luis Rosado, 42, at the Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, about 80 miles north of New York City.

Larry Davis and 21 other inmates were in the prison yard for recreation when he was fatally stabbed by a flat metal shank wielded by Rosado. According to Mr. Kriss, a corrections department spokesman, two prison guards spotted Rosado repeatedly stabbing Mr. Davis. They rushed to the scene and called an ambulance. A few minutes after ambulance arrived Davis was pronounced dead. Officials are at a loss to explain the attack. They said Davis and Rosado did not have a history of fighting each other. However both men had a history of violence:

Mr. Rosado, 42, was serving a sentence of 25 years to life for multiple counts of murder, assault and attempted assault. He had a long and extensive history of being disciplined for violent behavior during his incarceration — including assaults on staff and other inmates — corrections officials said, and had just recently been denied parole in 2007.

Mr. Davis also had a long history of being disciplined while incarcerated. His prison records indicate approximately 75 incidents that merited disciplinary action, including assaulting staff and inmates, making threats, harassment, and fighting. Mr. Davis was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, for the murder of a drug dealer and was also convicted of weapons charges. Mr. Davis would have been eligible for parole in 2016.

Mr. Rosado was arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Shawangunk Town Court and then returned to the correctional facility.

On Nov. 19, 1986, six police officers were shot, four of them seriously, while trying to apprehend Mr. Davis, then 20, at an apartment in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. Police had been searching for him in connection with the killings of several drug dealers. Davis said he opened fire in self defense and claimed police were after him because he knew about NYPD corruption. Davis was eventually acquitted on attempted murder and aggravated assault charges, but convicted on weapons charges stemming from the gun battle. His attorney said the acquittal and Davis' subsequent hero status was a reflection of people's frustration with white-on-black police brutality.

"The community rallied around Larry Davis, not because they thought he was some sort of wonderful human being, but because he was their symbol of resistance, of fighting back, a community that had oppressed by police violence and police brutality for decades," said attorney Ron Kuby.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who remembers being at the scene of the shooting and ducking from gunfire, says he was shocked by the acquittal, and troubled by the respect Davis gained in some circles for gunning down the officers.

"Those people are fools and they are giving heroic status to a criminal, regrettably there are people who will do that," said Koch.

Koch said he didn't shed any tears when he learned that Davis had been killed.

"He was a killer, and he shot six cops," Koch said. "You shouldn't take pride in the execution of anybody illegally, but I believe that there is a special oil pot in hell for him."

A video documentary by Troy Reed about the life of Larry Davis, examines the conditions that existed at the time. It details police corruption and complicity in the drug trade and gives some credence to Larry Davis' claim that the police were out to get him.

The Larry Davis Story Pt. I

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The Larry Davis Story Pt. II

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The rest of this series can be found in the Video section.

NYPD Detective accused of Pimping 13-Year-old

Detective Wayne Taylor, 35, a 14-year veteran of the New York Police Department's housing bureau had a second job: Pimp. He was arrested along with his girlfriend, 29-year-old Zelika Brown. They are accused of forcing a 13-year-old runaway to work as a prostitute at parties around the city. The criminal charges include: second-degree kidnapping, second- and third-degree promoting prostitution, third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. If convicted, each could face up to 25 years in prison. They were each being held on $250,000 bail. See the TV report here.

It all began when the 13-year-old ran away from her parent’s Brooklyn home on Jan. 10 and met with a person known as “Drama” who offered to get her into the business of dancing for money at parties. "Drama" introduced the girl to Zelika Brown who told the girl that she had bought her for $500 and that she had to work off the debt. Brown introduced the girl to detective Taylor as her husband. Even though the girl was only 13-years-old, Taylor told her to tell anyone who asked, that she was 19.

Both Taylor and Brown took the girl to a Queens barber shop where various men paid cash to be with her. Taylor instructed the girl on how much to charge the men: $40 for oral sex and $80 for intercourse. Another girl working that party, Krystal Tudy, 18, later told investigators that Brown put her to work and provided security for her and others in Brown's employ. Tudy and other prostitutes beat her for not making enough money at the barbershop party, with Taylor threatening to put her to work as a streetwalker and warning her that if she tried to flee, she would trip the house alarm. The girl lived at Brown's home at 173-37 Vaswani Avenue in Queens for about 17 days.

Between Jan 10 and Jan 27 the girl was forced to perform sexual acts with approximately 20 men who had paid Brown and Taylor to have sex with her. The girl eventually escaped to her family, who took her to a police precinct, police said.

"This case is every parent and every child's worst nightmare, made even more frightening by the fact that one of the defendants is a police officer who swore to uphold the law and the community he serves," District Attorney Richard A. Brown said in a statement. "The case will be vigorously prosecuted."

Taylor's lawyer, Peter Brill, told reporters his client "has a right to have the case proven against him beyond a reasonable doubt." Randall Unger, an attorney for Brown, said "It may turn out that there is a great deal of exaggeration in this case."

At the time of her arrest, Zelika Brown allegedly made statements to police that she was running a prostitution business and that the victim, Tudy and other women performed sex with men for money and that Taylor would “watch out” for her while the girls were prostituting themselves. Det. Wayne Taylor, 35, tried to distance himself from the allegations, telling investigators he only drove the teen -- and other girls and young women -- for his girlfriend's exotic dancer business, authorities said.

Police say Taylor joined the force in 1994. He was assigned to the Housing Bureau, and worked in the Bronx and in Queens. The detective was reportedly arrested during a police stakeout of his house. Sources say he left with two females, one identified as a prostitute and the other a madame. The three were allegedly en route to a party at a Holiday Inn in Queens. A police source says that the detective had previously been on modified duty after he was accused of using a department car to drive home after work. The same source referred to Taylor as "a bad, bad guy." The crimes Taylor is accused of occurred off-duty, police said. He likely faces termination and up to 25 years in prison.