By Larry McShane
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — The NYPD released bodycam footage Thursday showing a Harlem teenager swearing and swinging at a city cop before he shoved her to the sidewalk as her wanted boyfriend was led away by police.
The video was made public along with a statement from NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell saying the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau was reviewing the altercation, including the actions of Detective Kendo Kinsey after the suspect’s girlfriend began interfering with the Tuesday afternoon arrest.
“What’s the problem?” asked girlfriend Tamani Crum, 19, in a video recorded as cops walked with suspect Elvin James. “Don’t f---ing put your hands on me!”
Crum appeared to take a pair of swings at Kinsey before the push knocked her down Tuesday evening, igniting outrage among the eyewitnesses.
Sewell noted the officer struck the woman with an open hand rather than a punch, and the video appeared to show boyfriend James leaning in for a kiss from Crum before the dispute.
Crum was released on her own recognizance after arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on a misdemeanor governmental administration charge.
“Appreciate the love & concern,” Crum posted on Instagram after her court appearance. “Me & my loved ones gon be good.”
James remained in custody on $300,000 bail, records show. He was charged with resisting arrest and gun and drug possession. In addition to the gun, police say they recovered a baggie with 20 Oxycodone pills from James.
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Mayor Adams, speaking in Queens, offered his support for the officer who tangled with the teen.
“We need to be clear on what happened there,” he said. “While they were subduing (the suspect), a crowd came and attempted to disrupt the arrest. The young lady came, smacked a police officer, the police officer responded.”
The video showed Crum appearing after her boyfriend was busted on charges of attempted murder in a Aug. 12 case. Sewell said he was carrying an untraceable “ghost gun” in his waistband when taken into custody.
“The NYPD removed yet another illegal firearm — and the person brazen enough to carry it in public — from the streets of the city,” said Sewell. “This incident, including the conduct of the officer who used force, is under ongoing review.”
Although James was wanted for attempted murder, the charges against the 22-year-old suspect did not mention the previous incident and cops released no details of the earlier charge.
The president of the union representing police detectives said it is weighing a lawsuit against Crum over her role in the incident.
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