“It Was Like A Kidnapping”: Video Shows NYPD Forcing Teen Protester Into Unmarked Van
The NYPD tweeted that the teen who was arrested “was wanted for damaging police cameras.”
Footage has surfaced on social media showing plainclothes NYPD officers forcing a teenage protester into an unmarked van.
The incident occurred during an anti-police brutality demonstration in Manhattan on Tuesday. The teen, identifed as an 18-year-old transgender woman named Nikki Stone (also referred to as Nicki online), was grabbed by officers and placed into an unmarked silver minivan. Videos shared of the incident also show other officers surrounding the van and using their bicycles to hold off other protesters as Nicki is placed into the vehicle.
Another angle of plainclothes officers pushing a protester into a minivan on 2nd Ave near 25th earlier tonight. "We were skateboarding and eating pizza," said one witness. "We didn't see where they came from. All of a sudden they grabbed Nicki. It was like a kidnapping." pic.twitter.com/rzymNjlVVo
— Jake Offenhartz (@jangelooff) July 29, 2020
NYC is taking after Portland – a trans femme protestor was pulled into an unmarked van at the Abolition Park protest – this was at 2nd Ave and 25th Street pic.twitter.com/1PDhSYuK9h
— michelle lh࿊࿊q (@MichelleLhooq) July 28, 2020
The department addressed the videos on its Twitter account, writing:
In regard to a video on social media that took place at 2 Ave & 25 St, a woman taken into custody in an unmarked van was wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park. The arresting officers were assaulted with rocks & bottles.
In a series of follow-up tweets, the department also claimed that officers were “assaulted with rocks and bottles,” and that “The Warrant Squad uses unmarked vehicles to effectively locate wanted suspects.”
In regard to a video on social media that took place at 2 Ave & 25 St, a woman taken into custody in an unmarked van was wanted for damaging police cameras during 5 separate criminal incidents in & around City Hall Park. The arresting officers were assaulted with rocks & bottles. pic.twitter.com/2jGD3DT3eV
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 29, 2020
According to the Washington Post, Stone is facing charges of criminal mischief related to the five incidents. On Wednesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the incident, and said that “it was the wrong time and the wrong place to effectuate that arrest.”
“A lot of us have been watching in pain what’s going on in Portland, Oregon,” the mayor said. “Anything that even slightly suggests that is, to me, troubling, and it’s the kind of thing we don’t want to see in this city.”
